Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Do blogs get gifts for their birthdays?

Hi, all! So exactly a year ago, I worked up a lot of nerve and posted my first post, about a pair of boots I had just ordered. I had thought of a name quickly, chosen a template, and gave in to what had been a dream of mine (with a lot of encouragement from my husband): to join the ranks of Style Nation and add my own poor musings up there.

A year ago, I was working within the confines of an extremely strict dress code in my professional life, but was also starting to experiment with styles, silhouettes, and new footwear during my weekends and vacations. I stared Chalkdust and Boots with a thought to push myself during both weekends and weekdays and to capture some of my more memorable outfits while doing so. I guess my mission is still pretty vague - now that I don't work full-time, I don't have professional outfits to show, but I'm starting to finally be able to put a finger onto what is my personal style and am challenging myself to mix things up when that style gets a little stagnant.

A year ago, I only told my husband shyly about my blog. I didn't advertise it to any of my friends on Facebook. I didn't tell anyone about it. Part of me was a little embarrassed, worried that if I told my friends, they'd react with a resounding "YOU?! A fashion blog?!" And I didn't want that to happen. To try to drum up readers, I started commenting more and more on my favorite blogs, as opposed to when I had been a mere lurker before. I don't think I had any readers for the first eight months of my blog. But in the summer, something happened and people started leaving comments. And following me. Now, five months after that, I get excited every time I have a new comment. Some of my favorite bloggers - Erin, the geniuses behind Fashionable Academics, and Hillary  to name just a (very, very) few - leave comments on almost all of my posts. I'm linked to by other blogs that I'd only timidly read just a few years ago!

I guess what I'm trying to say is - thank you. I never thought I would have so much fun with this and - on top of that! - each time I see a new follower or a new comment, it's like a little present. So, for Chalkdust and Boots' first birthday, I want everyone who reads this post to write a comment. Just a hello would be great - I see that I have readers all around the world! Sing out!

Style Nation, thanks for letting me join you and for sharing my bumpy ride on the personal style train. Y'all are awesome.

Festive!

Now go out there and eat some cake in my honor.

Thank you for reading me for a year! 

21 comments:

  1. Happy Blogday!

    "each time I see a new follower or a new comment, it's like a little present."

    I so agree! Each time I gain a follower or read a comment I smile. It's such a little thrill.

    I read you becasue you are you, the same reason I read anyone else. You have something interesting and different to offer outside of what you are wearing. That's what I like.

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  2. Happy Birthday Blog! Just so you know, in my book you are always first on the list of blogs to read everyday. I love your style (yep even the BR cardi), and your writing style. Don't think about going anywhere.

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  3. happy blogiversary. Blogs should totally get presents for their birthdays. In April my site will be 9 and I still haven't even told my dad or many of my friends (certainly haven't told my coworkers). I am fairly close with my dad too and I just don't think he would get it.

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  4. Awww Happy Blog Birthday! I can totally relate to what you're saying here - I've barely told anybody about my blog.
    In any case, I'm super glad that I found your blog, it's a must read for me. I will SO be having cake in your honor. Or maybe some pudding. Or both?

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  5. Happy blogiversary! I just started my blog pretty recently with similar intentions as yours, and have gotten comments from a couple of big-time bloggers that just bowled me over with the fact they were reading me! I also discovered some great blogs just because people were nice enough to comment :)

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  6. Woo! Happy blogbirthday. I've only been reading you for a couple of months, but you're doing great!

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  7. Also, don't fashion blogs get boots for their birthdays?

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  8. Happy blogiversary! I had never checked how long you had been blogging and when I read the above, it captured my feelings as a beginner as well. You're an important part of StyleNation. Keep up the good work.

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  9. Happy birthday! It's funny how quickly a year can pass, isn't it?

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  10. Happy birthday and thanks for the shoutout! And OF COURSE you can have a fashion blog!

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  11. Awww, thanks, everybody! All your comments were the best birthday present my blog could receive!

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  12. Happy blogday! As a fellow dissertating grad student, it's nice to see how someone else is dressing to stay at home and write ;)

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  13. Congrats, lady! It's such an accomplishment to reach a year of doing something that's so rewarding and tough and awesome all at the same time. Here's to another one that's even better!

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  14. Happy Birthday! I just read your latest post in my reader and I meant to comment yesterday. I'm always happy to find another chill academic in the blogo-sphere. Even though I'm more 2 1/2 past my dissertation, I still feel like a graduate student in just about every way (except have all my gschool friends close by).

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  15. Ack! I'm late the Blog Birthday Party! (I have a long Tuesday on campus and don't really get to check any blogs during it.) So glad to have you in Style Nation, nena!

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  16. Eeek, thanks guys! You all were inspirations for me!

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  17. Happy Blog Bday! I hope it's not too late to send you my warmest wishes!

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  18. Is it too late now? :P I just discovered your blog a few months ago, and I was reading through the archives and marveling at how pretty you are when I came across this post. Let's make it an even 20 comments here, OK?

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