Happy 5th Birthday to my blog!! The 26th February 2013 I sat down and decided that as I was jobless, sitting around in my PJ's all day watching crappy day-time TV, suffering heavily with my mental health, that I would create a blog and do something a little more worth while with my time.
It still blows my mind how many people visit my blog per day and the countless number of people from countries that I've never even heard of viewing and commenting on my work, getting in touch and recommending products for little old me to try out for the blog.
Over the past year, I haven't worked for any companies or for a fee; my blog has been 100% funded by myself and I have only really blogged about my lifestyle, books and the beauty products that I have personally gone out and bought to test and review for myself.
I simply haven't had the time to work for brands that set tight deadlines and those that want products reviewing that I don't feel suit my blog or me personally.
Maybe this year, now that I've become more organised with my blog and have a few hours a week spare, I may reach out to companies and brands that need bloggers and reviews for their products. After all, there are only so many products that I use daily and my job doesn't pay enough for me to try every item I want (there's a lot on my list!).
Its amazing what sitting down for a couple of hours and typing each week can do for mental health. I don't do this for the money or the free sh*t, I do it because its therapeutic, because it gives me a goal to achieve and allows me to concentrate on things other than bills, work, cleaning and multiple other adult responsibilities.
I genuinely cannot believe that I have been blogging for 5 years now!! Its been a whirlwind of ups and downs. There have been many frustrated evenings and lunch breaks trying to complete scheduled posts that I've had to leave on the back burner due to adult duties and many happy dances when I receive positive emails from readers, brands getting in touch and general praise about my blog.
A huge thank you to every single one of you that takes the time to read and comment on my blog posts and finds the time to email me regarding my work.
It was also my 26th birthday yesterday. I'm now closer to 30 than I am to 20 and that thought terrifies me.
I still feel like I'm 18 and although I have more responsibilities like a flat, a dog and bills to pay, I still crave the irresponsible life I used to lead. I could quite happily blow all my money on shoes, holidays, beauty products and drunken nights out but adulthood calls for being sensible I'm afraid.
Back when I was younger, I genuinely believed that I would have my life set out by now. The goal as a teen was to be married, in my own place (bought not rented), in a career I enjoyed and possibly have a sprog or two by the time I was 25. None of that happened but life has a tendency to be unpredictable and apart from being stuck in a dead end job, my life is good, comfortable and I'm happy.
My birthday is a tough day to get through. Its a day that should be spent with the person/people who brought you into the world. Since my mom died, I haven't really wanted to 'celebrate' my birthday because it always feels like half of me is missing. For many years, I would stay in bed all day on my birthday; I didn't want to be happy and excited knowing she wasn't there to enjoy it with me. I have I managed to pull through this year without any tears because I know that's how my mom would have wanted it to be.
I celebrated my birthday on Saturday evening with my better half, my Stepdad, two Brothers, my Brothers Girlfriend and my Nephew... and the doggo of course!
We gathered in our teeny tiny flat and ordered in Pizzahut, Jack blew up some balloons (he knows I'm a secret 5 year old in an adult sized body) and participated in lots of birthday cake eating!!
Yesterday for 'the day of my birth', I woke up feeling fairly ill (I've been full of cold for about a month now and Fibro also thought it would make an appearance on my 9497th day of life) so I took the day easy. My other half and I walked the doggo together a few times, watched some TV shows on catch-up and had an amazing Fajita dinner...followed by more birthday cake and an early night because birthdays are exhausting even if you haven't done anything!!
Once again, thank you for reading my blog and valuing the opinions I have on all the products I have written about and reviewed over the past 5 years. Keep them emails coming as that's what drives me to push through the stress of writing a blog!! And lastly, here's to another year of blogging and being another year older!!
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