Sunday, April 10, 2011

Imperfectly Painted Turns 1!

Today is my official blog-o-versary! So, be prepared for a long sappy post.

First off I have the opportunity to meet with some other nail bloggers and nail lovers yesterday. I met up with Libby's Pink Vanity, Once Bitten, Cult Nails, and 2 other lovely ladies. We had a blast! Everyone was so wonderful and nice. I really enjoyed all of their company. It's definitely nice to meet with some other nail polish lovers. It was really a genuinely great time, and all these women are wonderful. I was a dodo brain and forgot to bring my camera, but there were pictures taken. I'm sure someone will post them soon. We also had massive swap fest! I'll show you what I came home with later!

Back to this blog. I know I'll probably say a lot of cliche things, but they're true. I would of never been able to guess I could keep up with this blog for so long. I'm the type of person to start a journal one day and completely forget about it. I was unsure of blogging for the longest time. I probably debated it for over a year, assuming that since they're were so many nail blogs out there, who would read mine?

I started it on a whim, and it's been one of favorite things in my life ever since. I really appreciate and love this community. I think that is the most valuable thing I've gotten out of this. Nail polish is fun and we all enjoy it here, but it's the people behind this fun hobby that make it extra special. Nail polish + good people  is a great combination.

It has not all been perfect. There are times when this stuff gets to me. I think in all honesty it gets to all of us. There are times I feel insecure about my blog. Are my swatches ugly? Are my cuticles too dry? Should I try to get PR stuff? What do other bloggers think about me? Am I too chatty in my posts? Why did I only get 1 comment today? Why did I get no comments today? I think that's par for the course when it comes to something we love.

I think this has all been a part of my "imperfect" journey. As I've mentioned before briefly, I've definitely struggled with perfectionism in my real life. I don't open up much,but I am very hard on myself. I had people hard on me growing up and have been deeply hurt. I always have felt a need to prove to people I'm worthy. This causes me to have a lot of anxiety and depression at times, and Imperfectly Painted has been my escape. Though, I've been challenged with "perfectionist" thoughts on my blog, I think in the long run I've really created something that is genuinely me...flaws and all. You know what, I'm OK with that. It seems like you all are OK with it too, and I so appreciate it! Though it's just a nail polish blog, I've definitely had some personal growth through this.

I think that's enough blabber for now. I'm sure I've bored you all. I just really appreciate all of you who take the time to read this blog. Yesterdays meet-up was icing on the cake and reassurance of how wonderful this community is. It is also Lacquer Ware for Tips and Toes blog-o-versary too! We've become great friends from starting our blog on the same day!

Here are the swap goodies I got yesterday!

 Remember to enter my 1 year Blog-o-versary Giveaway!
Also if you dare to read my first blog post you can find it here.

Thank you all for sharing in this fun journey with me! Of course there will be more to come!

Happy Sunday!


P.S. Thanks for all of your well wishes and good vibes. I did not get sick! :) <3

25 comments:

  1. Happy Blog-o-versary to youuuuuuuuuuu! Yay I'm so proud that you made it to one year! I definitely know how you feel about sticking with it, I'm amazed it's been almost 4 months for me! You are awesome and I'm happy for you <3

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  2. Congrats on your first blog birthday!
    I know what you mean about keeping a diary for a week then giving up! Iv just started so hopefully it will all be good :)

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  3. Happy Blogoversary! I enjoy your blog so much, chattiness and all. I love it when bloggers share a bit of themselves in their posts. It is a nice way to get to know a person a little.

    Your meetup sounds like so much fun. And nice swap haul, too. Can't wait to see pics when you get them on. :D

    Once again, Happy Blogoversary! *throws confetti*

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  4. Aww this was a great post! Congrats on your blog-o-versary!!! I always love reading your blog!

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  5. Happy Blog-o-versary! I love your blog so much! I've been following you since b4 I started blogging and have always loved your posts and your swatches so much!

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  6. Happy blog birthday, girl! You're one of the people I feel lucky to have "met" now that I've started blogging :) Never worry about your blog not being good, it's amazing and so are you!
    And you don't talk too much ;)
    Congrats again, lovahhhh! <3

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  7. Happy Blog-o-Versary! I never knew there were such things as nail polish blogs, but now, yours is the first one I check =] ! Thanks for being awesome.

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  8. happy blog anniversary!! :) :) mine is near too :D

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  9. Congrats on your blog anniversary! I really love your blog and I think everyone else does too, so don't ever worry about that. :) My blog anniversary is coming soon too, btw. Time goes so fast! But anyways, congrats again!

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  10. ooh! I think I see Yodel Me On My Cell in your swap pile! Great Color!

    Congrats again on your one year Blog-o-versary Steph!

    I think we all start out a little random and unsure of what the heck we're doing when we start a blog. But if it helps I can really go for a good pre-ramble or back story before a nail polish swatch myself. ;)

    Hope your second year with the blog only gets better!

    ~Miss80Million

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  11. Even before meeting up with you, I just knew you were a sweetheart. :)

    I struggle with sooo many of the same issues you mentioned. What I have tried to remember about perfectionism is, I don't have to be perfect, just be the best that I can be. And I take that into my blogging. There are plenty out there that motivate me to do better (you are one of them!!) and as time goes by, I am doing better.

    I honestly love reading your blog. I started reading it about a month after you started, as I was gearing up to start blogging too.

    You got some great goodies yesterday. In fact, I recognize a few. LOL!!
    I'm so looking forward to meeting up with you again. Congratulations and Happy Blogiversary!!!!!!!! <3

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  12. congrats to your one year anniversary! here's to many more!!!

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  13. Happy blogoversary!

    I totally agree with you about worrying about our imperfections on here, I do it constantly! I guess it's just normal.

    www.fortheloveofallthingsgirly.blogspot.com

    xoxo

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  14. Happy blog-a-versay!!! Don't worry about your blog--it's perfect! I think whenever you open yourself up to the masses there are gonna be times when you worry about how you appear to other people. Rest assured that other bloggers are thinking the same thoughts. xx

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  15. Heya Sweetie! Happy Blogoversary! I've really appreciated the great friendship that has grown over the last year between us and it all started because we decided to start our blogs on the same day. :)

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  16. congrats and happy blog-bday! hope you stick with it much longer and have many more to come

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  17. Happy Blogoversary! Here's to many more!!!

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  18. woo hoo! congrats on your one year!! :) and what awesome polishes you got from your meet up!

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  19. I think we all have those insecurities.
    Happy Blog-o-Versary!!

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  20. Happy blogoversary! I am a newer follwer but I've enjoyed myself here so far ;) Here's to many more!

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  21. Happy Bloggerversary! I love your blog. I've never thought your cuticles looked too dry. Although I have thought that of my own. Trying to remember the oil for those macro shots. Always timing things to get the best light. It's a JOB. LOL But we love it right?
    XXX

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  22. Happy Blogoversary! I love reading your blog and it's the first one I check on most days.

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  23. Happy belated blogaversary :D

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  24. Happy Blogoversary! I sure enjoy your blog - and I should have read the advice about the cat hair before last night!

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  25. Elizabeth- Thank you :)!

    Ash- Thanks. It definitely helps when when it's something you love. I just started following your blog!

    Ice Queen- Thank you. I also enjoy blogs more when I can get a sense of the person personality.

    Beauty by Brittany- Thank you for your sweet comments. :)

    Cris- Thank you! I love your blog too!

    Kristen- Aw thank you for the nice comments. Haha, I'm glad I don't talk too much.

    Victoria- Nice to see you here! Thanks!

    Alice- Thank you!

    Annie- Thank you! Happy early birthday to your blog! Time does fly by!

    Miss80Million- Thanks! I was clueless, but once you get into the groove of things it all works out well.

    Kimberly- Aw, thank you :). Right, I definitely do the best I can, and it's hard sometimes to shake that need to be the best, but I've really been able for the most part to keep this blog out of that *need*. I look forward to meeting up with you again too!

    Jessica- Thank you!

    Terri- Thanks! I've realized too through this that we all experience similar insecurities with ourselves and our blogs. It's helpful to know you're not alone.

    Tamara- Aw, thank you! It is a comfort to know that we all think the same about these issues. I've been reading your blog since before I started mine. I've always enjoyed it! :)

    Lacquer- Me too! I'm so grateful to have found a friend in you, even though we just got through having a little tiff :P. Thank you for being such a great friend.

    Amanda- Thank you!

    Motoko- Thank you!

    Katrina- Thanks! I know I'm so excited about my new goodies!

    nicnacknails- Yeah we do. Even though they are sucky feelings it's good to know we're not alone in thinking them. Thank you.

    shimmer- Thank you so much! Welcome to my blog!

    1xellus1- Yes we do love it. I think I take around 10-20 pictures per swatch and have to find the best one. It can be like a job, but a good one! Thank you :)

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