I was just reminded, reading that it was Jen's 6th Blogiversary, that I had missed my Blogiversary a few days ago! It's been a tradition that I write a Blogiversary post for the past few years so I would like to keep this up! I'm amazed that I have sustained this hobby for 13 years!
As always, I should mention that you, the readers, are probably the main reason I continue to write. I started this blog because I liked to write and share but it wouldn't be half as fun without a kind and responsive audience! I have, perhaps, written less in the past year than in the preceding few years. This is for a few reasons- 1) Instagram - much as I would like to say that it hasn't affected my output, it has taken up precious time, 2) I had set myself a difficult target of trying to blog daily, even if I had not so much to say and it made me stress out a bit so I decided to relax a bit more, 3) Various things such as house moves and time being taken up with such admin.
However, no matter how I read of the demise of blogging and yet another friend ceases posting, I have never been one to do what the crowd are doing and if I can manage this for 13 years, I can jolly well continue it!
Anyway, we are off to the Royal Opera House tonight to go and see the Berstein ballet triple bill which I am excited about so I will wish you a beautiful Monday and look forward to hearing from you or visiting you soon!
Much love,
Kezzie x
Showing posts with label blogiversary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogiversary. Show all posts
Monday, April 09, 2018
Saturday, April 08, 2017
My 12th Blogiversary!
Yes, I can proudly announce that two days ago was my 12th Blogiversary! I began on April the 6th, 2005- you can see my post here.
This means I have actually been blogging a whole THIRD of my life!
Over the years, things have changed in the blogging world (sorry to do the whole retrospective but it's rather obligatory on such occasions, rah, rah, rah...): the friends I first had blogging- Rach, Amy, Chris at the Chrlog, RJ, have mostly stopped blogging but a few still persevere (looking at your Stephen/ven!). In around 2009, I gained some lovely new blogging friends such as Sophie (in the Sticks), Laura at Daisychaindream, Lauren at Someonelikeyou, The Two Birds and a few others who are still blogging. Later on, I met the lovely crafters, the amazing Ang Almond, the fabulous Dinoprincess Char and others.
Then for quite a few years, there have been some of you wonderful, wonderful stawarts who I have met through here and I value greatly and love their blogs still to this day. I apologise if I have missed anyone- the list includes: Julia, Tasha, Vintage Vix, Louise, Lisa at Jumble and Jelly, Anca, Nevena, Gretchen Joanna, Alison Dormouse, the Julies Hazel, the Jans, Donna, Ivana, Linda, Denise, Fil, Ally, Anna, Bev, Melanie, Pom Pom, Imogen, Salazar, Maggs, Susie, Lizzie, Corinne...
And finally, recent new friends: Ann, Fiona, Johnny Jumps up, Thriftdeluxe and anyone I have missed out (I am sorry if I have- just thinking off the top of my head!)
Anyway, it is to you I say thanks. I am quite sure I might not have continued for so long if it wasn't for your lovely comments, support and friendship.
I thought it might be quite nice that if you wish to leave a comment- rather than doing a giveaway in the usual sense, if you leave me a comment and I will pick one person to make a card for to send it to you! And if I think I can just your taste, I might possibly send something little with it!
Thanks for reading and do leave a comment- I'd love to make a card especially for someone!
xx
Sunday, April 24, 2016
11th Blogiversary Giveaway winners
Hello All,
Apologies, I haven't announced the winner of my Giveaway. There were a few comments that I wasn't sure if they were entering or not or just saying, "Nice brooch!" and I wrote all the names down against the prize they wanted to win and promptly lost the list.
So, just now, I went through all the comments, assigned a number to each name who had said "I want to win brooch or Nails," and depending on whether they did a second comment with a blogging tip, assigned between 2 and 4 numbers to each player. Then I used random.org to generate the winners.
Out of my list, the winner of the Sass and Belle bird brooch was no.26: Petite Silver Vixen.
The winner of the nail art pens was number 6: Nevena!
Please could you both leave me a comment with your email address (you can type it backwards or with spaces to avoid spam) and I will contact you to get your address details!
Thanks to all who entered and all those who just left genuinely beautiful comments! I love you all!
xx
Apologies, I haven't announced the winner of my Giveaway. There were a few comments that I wasn't sure if they were entering or not or just saying, "Nice brooch!" and I wrote all the names down against the prize they wanted to win and promptly lost the list.
So, just now, I went through all the comments, assigned a number to each name who had said "I want to win brooch or Nails," and depending on whether they did a second comment with a blogging tip, assigned between 2 and 4 numbers to each player. Then I used random.org to generate the winners.
Out of my list, the winner of the Sass and Belle bird brooch was no.26: Petite Silver Vixen.
The winner of the nail art pens was number 6: Nevena!
Please could you both leave me a comment with your email address (you can type it backwards or with spaces to avoid spam) and I will contact you to get your address details!
Thanks to all who entered and all those who just left genuinely beautiful comments! I love you all!
xx
Wednesday, April 06, 2016
My 11th Blogiversary! Things I've learnt from 11 years of blogging AND a giveaway!!
Today exactly, 11 years ago, I began my blog!!! It was a Wednesday too! It's pretty hard to believe that as of next year, I will have been blogging a 3rd of my life! Scary eh? Or cool, whichever way you wish to see it. I view it as the latter.
Sometimes I see posts about what people have learnt from blogging. Sometimes these state the obvious or reinvent the wheel. This is fine, sometimes you need to look at the wheel again to appreciate it. But I don't do it that often. However, now I am officially 11, officially in the ranks of wizened old blogger, I thought I'd write a little post about what I have learnt.
1. Sometimes posting about a really random topic really engages people in long and interesting comments, e.g. Contemplating one's slippers post was one that lots of people joined in as was 10 cakes I hate and 10 embarrassing film/TV actors I have loved over the years
2. Variety keeps you going. I'd go mad just doing ONE type of post! Why not introduce a new type of post!!! Last year, I introduced 5 brooches, the year before, TARDIS Tuesday and What is it? and I've included craft, waffling, outfits, faith, food reviews or recipes...
3. Not trying to be too professional is not always the disaster that many aspiring bloggers would have you believe. I am sloppy and I am doing ok.
4. It's good to comment. Very good! Comments are nice. We all like comments. More comments please to everyone! If I visit a blog and I see the comment count is low, I will ALWAYS comment (unless you have Google comments in which case,sorry!) because that's nice. Sorry if I'm on the train as I do so- sometimes it gets lost as the signal is rubbish on my local line.
Bear in mind, some people will never comment back, despite their seeming nice people or not having a job. No matter how many nice comments you leave, no matter that you are one of their few consistent commenters, they are just a bit rude. But YOU don't have to be rude!* ALSO -
Always be nice in comments. I've generally tried to leave nice comments. The only time I've left something that might seem slightly not nice comments is usually saying something like, "Sorry I haven't commented in a while, it's because I'm trying to comment on those who interact occasionally,". I've always felt mean despite countering it with, "But rest assured, I still am reading your blog and still enjoy it!"- it's silly I feel the need to justify when I've not commented, when the one or two people I've said that to have never visited my blog in return despite hundreds of comments! One comment in a few months is fine, just make one comment so the blogger knows you don't hate them!
*The only time you don't have to be nice in comments if the person is commenting on MUSHROOMS! Then you can be as rude as you like (about the mushrooms)!!!
5. But for every inexplicably silent blogger (i.e. never comes back), there are 100 GORGEOUS vocal bloggers who keep you going with regular comments- I KNOW I am going to miss someone as doing this from memory, but these include:
Julia, Shamu, Pom-pom, Vix, Ally, Ivana, Laura, Sandra, Lisa, Hazel, Val, Fat Dormouse, both Julies, Char, Bevchen. Pink-haired Princess, Gem Countrylife, Claire, Katie Hookline and Sinkher, Curtise, Connie, Melanie, Angel Jem, Nevena, Anna, Susie, Janet, both Jans, Corinne, Anca, Tamara, Louise Roachlings, Angela, Thrift Deluxe, Rach, Ellie, Diary of Penny Pincher, Petite Silver Vixen, Tasha, Linda P, Lily Fang, Lizzie Dripping, Suzanne Carillo, Patti, Dan Maricel, Sophie, Both Zoes, Jen, Renata Laura etc...
THANK YOU.
6. You will find people you get on really well with! Your loved ones will not understand it. They will find it weird that you can connect and find good friends through a blog. Ignore them.
7. Your loved ones might also think everyone just sucks up to everyone in blog world. They might not get that you are encouraging each other.
8. More people might discover you by googling you than you might think! Be careful what you write. I've been found by lots of people in real life over the years. Luckily I've not said anything that they could take offence to, but still, it's nice to have a secret blog! Thus, DO NOT INCLUDE your name in your blog url- I am an idiot for this reason!
9. Support little blogs and new blogs. Remember what it was like! I was very happy to be someone's first commenter recently!
10. It's nice to give someone 'Comment Christmas' especially if you're new you their blog. Leave a whole stream of comments for someone, it's a nice thing to do and makes them feel loved!
11. You can actually win give-aways! I won a book clutch, an iPod shuffle, a mini handbag, a beautiful bangle, a fairtrade bracelet, a personalised Toblerone and possibly something else!
12. If you post geekily and slightly obsessively about something (e.g. brooches and Doctor Who) people will actually start to think of you when they see those things in real life!!!! It's nice to be thought of!
13. Link-ups are great!!! Do them!
14. Picmonkey.com is your friend! You can adjust horrid exposure and colours. Putting lomo mode onto your photos makes them look pretty!
15. Blogging actually improves your photography. My Father-in-law comments that my photography has improved a lot over the years on my blog. He takes great photos so he knows what he is talking about.
Now, I know you're only here for the giveaway (mwa ha ha)!! It's only a humble, little one really, sorry for that, but I thought I'd give away 2 little gifts here to say thank you for following my blog.
The first is this darling bird brooch by Sass and Belle. We all know I like brooches!
The second is this set of funky nail art pens from Monsoon Accessorize- you can have an experiment and try painting funky patterns on your finger nails or toe-nails!
If you would like to have a chance to win, please leave a comment on THIS post saying actually that you'd like to enter the giveaway (no problem if you don't want to, I understand you might not like the items. If you just want to say something, just do so and make it clear you don't want to enter). These are open internationally, don't feel worried about postage costs, that's cool!
Say if you want to enter the giveaway for both items or just one. What I'll do then is count each comment for two entries (two for one prize or one for each) to make it fair. You do need to be a follower via GFC or Bloglovin- please state your name for each. Don't do the immediate unfollow thing after please as only losers do that!
If you want a bonus entry, then leave a second comment telling me what you have learnt from blogging over your time.
The giveaway closes on Wednesday the 13th April by the end of that day whichever time zone you are in, exactly in one week!
And thanks!
xxx
Sometimes I see posts about what people have learnt from blogging. Sometimes these state the obvious or reinvent the wheel. This is fine, sometimes you need to look at the wheel again to appreciate it. But I don't do it that often. However, now I am officially 11, officially in the ranks of wizened old blogger, I thought I'd write a little post about what I have learnt.
1. Sometimes posting about a really random topic really engages people in long and interesting comments, e.g. Contemplating one's slippers post was one that lots of people joined in as was 10 cakes I hate and 10 embarrassing film/TV actors I have loved over the years
2. Variety keeps you going. I'd go mad just doing ONE type of post! Why not introduce a new type of post!!! Last year, I introduced 5 brooches, the year before, TARDIS Tuesday and What is it? and I've included craft, waffling, outfits, faith, food reviews or recipes...
3. Not trying to be too professional is not always the disaster that many aspiring bloggers would have you believe. I am sloppy and I am doing ok.
Bear in mind, some people will never comment back, despite their seeming nice people or not having a job. No matter how many nice comments you leave, no matter that you are one of their few consistent commenters, they are just a bit rude. But YOU don't have to be rude!* ALSO -
Always be nice in comments. I've generally tried to leave nice comments. The only time I've left something that might seem slightly not nice comments is usually saying something like, "Sorry I haven't commented in a while, it's because I'm trying to comment on those who interact occasionally,". I've always felt mean despite countering it with, "But rest assured, I still am reading your blog and still enjoy it!"- it's silly I feel the need to justify when I've not commented, when the one or two people I've said that to have never visited my blog in return despite hundreds of comments! One comment in a few months is fine, just make one comment so the blogger knows you don't hate them!
*The only time you don't have to be nice in comments if the person is commenting on MUSHROOMS! Then you can be as rude as you like (about the mushrooms)!!!
5. But for every inexplicably silent blogger (i.e. never comes back), there are 100 GORGEOUS vocal bloggers who keep you going with regular comments- I KNOW I am going to miss someone as doing this from memory, but these include:
Julia, Shamu, Pom-pom, Vix, Ally, Ivana, Laura, Sandra, Lisa, Hazel, Val, Fat Dormouse, both Julies, Char, Bevchen. Pink-haired Princess, Gem Countrylife, Claire, Katie Hookline and Sinkher, Curtise, Connie, Melanie, Angel Jem, Nevena, Anna, Susie, Janet, both Jans, Corinne, Anca, Tamara, Louise Roachlings, Angela, Thrift Deluxe, Rach, Ellie, Diary of Penny Pincher, Petite Silver Vixen, Tasha, Linda P, Lily Fang, Lizzie Dripping, Suzanne Carillo, Patti, Dan Maricel, Sophie, Both Zoes, Jen, Renata Laura etc...
THANK YOU.
6. You will find people you get on really well with! Your loved ones will not understand it. They will find it weird that you can connect and find good friends through a blog. Ignore them.
7. Your loved ones might also think everyone just sucks up to everyone in blog world. They might not get that you are encouraging each other.
8. More people might discover you by googling you than you might think! Be careful what you write. I've been found by lots of people in real life over the years. Luckily I've not said anything that they could take offence to, but still, it's nice to have a secret blog! Thus, DO NOT INCLUDE your name in your blog url- I am an idiot for this reason!
9. Support little blogs and new blogs. Remember what it was like! I was very happy to be someone's first commenter recently!
10. It's nice to give someone 'Comment Christmas' especially if you're new you their blog. Leave a whole stream of comments for someone, it's a nice thing to do and makes them feel loved!
11. You can actually win give-aways! I won a book clutch, an iPod shuffle, a mini handbag, a beautiful bangle, a fairtrade bracelet, a personalised Toblerone and possibly something else!
12. If you post geekily and slightly obsessively about something (e.g. brooches and Doctor Who) people will actually start to think of you when they see those things in real life!!!! It's nice to be thought of!
13. Link-ups are great!!! Do them!
14. Picmonkey.com is your friend! You can adjust horrid exposure and colours. Putting lomo mode onto your photos makes them look pretty!
15. Blogging actually improves your photography. My Father-in-law comments that my photography has improved a lot over the years on my blog. He takes great photos so he knows what he is talking about.
Now, I know you're only here for the giveaway (mwa ha ha)!! It's only a humble, little one really, sorry for that, but I thought I'd give away 2 little gifts here to say thank you for following my blog.
The first is this darling bird brooch by Sass and Belle. We all know I like brooches!
The second is this set of funky nail art pens from Monsoon Accessorize- you can have an experiment and try painting funky patterns on your finger nails or toe-nails!
If you would like to have a chance to win, please leave a comment on THIS post saying actually that you'd like to enter the giveaway (no problem if you don't want to, I understand you might not like the items. If you just want to say something, just do so and make it clear you don't want to enter). These are open internationally, don't feel worried about postage costs, that's cool!
Say if you want to enter the giveaway for both items or just one. What I'll do then is count each comment for two entries (two for one prize or one for each) to make it fair. You do need to be a follower via GFC or Bloglovin- please state your name for each. Don't do the immediate unfollow thing after please as only losers do that!
If you want a bonus entry, then leave a second comment telling me what you have learnt from blogging over your time.
The giveaway closes on Wednesday the 13th April by the end of that day whichever time zone you are in, exactly in one week!
And thanks!
xxx
Tuesday, April 08, 2014
April 6th= 9th blogiversary giveaway!
I celebrated my 1000th (published) blog post last week - I was really hoping it would coincide with my 9th blogiversary so I could have my jollies all in one but that was not quite to be! And somehow, despite writing a draft of this post, I've missed my own 9th anniversary day, so here it is a little late!
Anyway, I thought I'd have a little giveaway to celebrate it and gathered a few little items I had lurking in my gift box!!! Nothing too exciting but maybe something you'd like!?
If you would like to be put in for the giveaway, please make sure:
1. You are a follower- none of that rude following and then nipping off with the booty and unfollowing milarkey.
2. Leave me a comment in the comments box telling me you'd like to enter it (please actually say that so I know for sure you're not just being friendly and saying hi but not wanting the things) and how you follow
3. For a bonus entry, you can also tell me a funny joke please!
If you enter, you will win all of the following items bought by myself:
Anyway, I thought I'd have a little giveaway to celebrate it and gathered a few little items I had lurking in my gift box!!! Nothing too exciting but maybe something you'd like!?
If you would like to be put in for the giveaway, please make sure:
1. You are a follower- none of that rude following and then nipping off with the booty and unfollowing milarkey.
2. Leave me a comment in the comments box telling me you'd like to enter it (please actually say that so I know for sure you're not just being friendly and saying hi but not wanting the things) and how you follow
3. For a bonus entry, you can also tell me a funny joke please!
If you enter, you will win all of the following items bought by myself:
- a light pink silky scarf from Indonesia
- a pack of 8 pairs of cute little earrings
- a charm bracelet
- a cube candle
- a mini Cath Kidston photoframe
- a sheep pencil
- a mini Scott Fitzgerald book
- a frangipani necklace
- a pack of lolly-cards (good for penpals or 'Ahrgh, I forgot to get x a birthday/thankyou/... card'
- a Nails inc cappacino coloured nail varnish (that I got with a magazine and found lurking around- not really my shade!
- there might also be something edible when I get around to it- or something for the bath...
Saturday, April 06, 2013
Happy 8th Blogiverssaaraay!
On Wednesday, April 06, 2005, I began my blog! It's been 8 years of waffle a plenty, Enid-Blyton-esque thoughts, a flurry of outfits over the last 2 years, hats in abundance, moans about teaching, poems, book reviews, cards I've made and objects I've attempted, clouds and reflections on my life and being a Christian! It's changed over the years depending on my readership and what I've been reading but the core values are still there! I've not celebrated my blogiversary before, but I felt like it this year!
I love reading other blogs and I love the sense of community, the shared experience of blogging, be it the love of cake (Katie), being inspired by an outfit (Twobirds, Bethie, Shybiker, Sophie, Char, Hazel, Denise and more!), sharing our love of Christ (Ang, Rach, Floss, Jan, Fiona and co), sharing our glee over Vintage (Vix, Mel-Folly Bird, Miss Simmonds, Penny Dreadful, Sharon, ), analysing and enjoying books (Stephen, Alex), licking muffins (Chris at the Chrlog), the delight of second hand bargains (Sharon, Lakota, Sophie, Meagan etc), cat love (Laura, Hazel, Lisa-Jane), gratuitious food shots especially of tofu (Nicole), Wardrobe zoo delight (Alex and Char), the joy of the outdoors (Louise, Lyn), crafted fun (Katie, Lakota, Vix, Gem, Jille, Tracy, Clare), the difficulties of teaching or training (Louise, Ang, Jille, Floss, Helen), the joy of music (Bethie, Jac, Denise), Doctor Who appreciation (Mel, Stephen) and the just sense of enjoying what each other writes and learning something new!
I finally finally managed to make it 100 followers (101 actually- edited! Thanks Jane!x)! I wasn't really bothered by followers at first, but there is that gorgeous sense of 'What did they like about my blog to decide to find the button?'-glee when someone decides to follow you so I am delighted everytime I see that number creep up!! I'm quite sad that GFC is apparently going so I am hoping to set up some sort of Bloglovin shenanigans and I hope that some of you will decide that some of my witterings are worth coming back for, because I would miss you if you disappeared!
I also hit the 40,000 page view this week which is cool as I am not in googlesearch engines even if titchy compared to you big-guns!
The most popular search terms of all time for me (apart from my name and blog name) are:
10 things to be thankful for - yes appropriate
primark car print - ok, only done two posts on this.
jessica alba no clothes - whaaaaaaat?
modern teen clothes styles for pear shaped girls - I agree with the pear-shaped bit but teen?
jj fever - I do believe I have a slight crush on Mr JJ Feild
1950's polka dot dresses - yep, agree with this
kids bible mistakes - one post 5 years ago?!
julia stiles in the bath - no, no no!!!!
Anyway, as a wee celebration, I have a little giveaway planned. Do you remember my mint/pale blue beret and gloves from a previous snowy Inspiration Monday?
Well, I have a duplicate set to give away (aha, forward planning, ya???!)
I also have a little Cath Kidston cosmetic set (handcream etc) to give away as a second prize!
If you would like to be the stylish recipient of these then:
a) leave me a comment saying thus.
b) please already be a GFC follower, none of this rude random turning up and winning the prize then disappearing (like two previous ones!)
Oh and guess what? I jumped on the bloglovin bandwagon- hope that doesn't mean I am in googlesearches now!!! Follow me if you dare?!?!!?
Follow my blog with Bloglovin
c) You can have a subsequent entry if you decided to add me to Bloglovin! Up to you! Thanks to the 24 people who apparently already follow me there- WHO knew?!?! I didn't!!!
Oh and the giveaway ends when April reaches its 17th rotation of the Earth!!!!
I love reading other blogs and I love the sense of community, the shared experience of blogging, be it the love of cake (Katie), being inspired by an outfit (Twobirds, Bethie, Shybiker, Sophie, Char, Hazel, Denise and more!), sharing our love of Christ (Ang, Rach, Floss, Jan, Fiona and co), sharing our glee over Vintage (Vix, Mel-Folly Bird, Miss Simmonds, Penny Dreadful, Sharon, ), analysing and enjoying books (Stephen, Alex), licking muffins (Chris at the Chrlog), the delight of second hand bargains (Sharon, Lakota, Sophie, Meagan etc), cat love (Laura, Hazel, Lisa-Jane), gratuitious food shots especially of tofu (Nicole), Wardrobe zoo delight (Alex and Char), the joy of the outdoors (Louise, Lyn), crafted fun (Katie, Lakota, Vix, Gem, Jille, Tracy, Clare), the difficulties of teaching or training (Louise, Ang, Jille, Floss, Helen), the joy of music (Bethie, Jac, Denise), Doctor Who appreciation (Mel, Stephen) and the just sense of enjoying what each other writes and learning something new!
I finally finally managed to make it 100 followers (101 actually- edited! Thanks Jane!x)! I wasn't really bothered by followers at first, but there is that gorgeous sense of 'What did they like about my blog to decide to find the button?'-glee when someone decides to follow you so I am delighted everytime I see that number creep up!! I'm quite sad that GFC is apparently going so I am hoping to set up some sort of Bloglovin shenanigans and I hope that some of you will decide that some of my witterings are worth coming back for, because I would miss you if you disappeared!
I also hit the 40,000 page view this week which is cool as I am not in googlesearch engines even if titchy compared to you big-guns!
The most popular search terms of all time for me (apart from my name and blog name) are:
10 things to be thankful for - yes appropriate
primark car print - ok, only done two posts on this.
jessica alba no clothes - whaaaaaaat?
modern teen clothes styles for pear shaped girls - I agree with the pear-shaped bit but teen?
jj fever - I do believe I have a slight crush on Mr JJ Feild
1950's polka dot dresses - yep, agree with this
kids bible mistakes - one post 5 years ago?!
julia stiles in the bath - no, no no!!!!
Anyway, as a wee celebration, I have a little giveaway planned. Do you remember my mint/pale blue beret and gloves from a previous snowy Inspiration Monday?
Well, I have a duplicate set to give away (aha, forward planning, ya???!)
I also have a little Cath Kidston cosmetic set (handcream etc) to give away as a second prize!
If you would like to be the stylish recipient of these then:
a) leave me a comment saying thus.
b) please already be a GFC follower, none of this rude random turning up and winning the prize then disappearing (like two previous ones!)
Oh and guess what? I jumped on the bloglovin bandwagon- hope that doesn't mean I am in googlesearches now!!! Follow me if you dare?!?!!?
Follow my blog with Bloglovin
c) You can have a subsequent entry if you decided to add me to Bloglovin! Up to you! Thanks to the 24 people who apparently already follow me there- WHO knew?!?! I didn't!!!
Oh and the giveaway ends when April reaches its 17th rotation of the Earth!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)