First Birthday

My baby* turns one today. Bows & Sequins has been such a major part of my life over the past year and I would not be able to do it without YOU. Each and every single one of your sweet comments make me smile and keep me posting everyday. Here are some bow cupcakes to celebrate! 🙂

Not going to lie… there are some days that I wonder why the heck I spend countless hours every.single.day working on this blog. These thoughts usually happen as I’m getting up early to work on a post before I go to work or when I’m coming home from work and just wanting to sleep but end up editing pictures and writing instead. But then I get a comment that makes me smile, a tweet that makes me laugh, or an email that is so sweet that I actually tear up and it all seems worth it. So THANK YOU! You honestly keep me going.

I think back to a year ago when I randomly started a blog one night while I was supposed to be studying for an exam. I remember taking my first set of outfit pictures (in my apartment at night–total NEWB!) and being so camera shy. I don’t think I even showed my face in my first outfit pic. I waited a few weeks before I even told my roommates about this ‘blog thing I had.’ Believe it or not, I didn’t tell my parents until this past spring. Bows & Sequins was, and definitely still is, my creative outlet, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted other people to be a part of that. What if people didn’t like it? What if people thought it was dumb? Would people think I was full of myself? All of these questions kept going through my head, but I finally said F*CK IT and I’m so glad that I did.

NOW I hand my business card to anyone that wants one. And sometimes to people who don’t want one. I just stand and laugh as I’m posing (hand on hip, DUH) on Michigan Avenue and people walk by and look at me like I have three heads. (I believe the term is ‘gawk.’) I pretend that my neighbors aren’t walking down the sidewalk as I’m getting my picture taken by every stoop within a two block radius of my apartment. I post pictures of myself after I’ve worked a 12+ hour day and look oh-so-pleasant. I post pictures of boring outfits. Because sometimes I wear boring outfits. Okay, fine — a lot of the time.

And I’m fine with it. This blog has turned into so much more than a creative outlet. My parents read it like it’s the daily newspaper. (I know I did a good job if my mom calls to tell me she likes my post!) Some of my friends that I don’t get to see regularly read it to keep up with my life. I flew to NYC this fall for a blogging conference. I push myself to try new things when it comes to style. I have a whole new group of friends, my blogger friends. I actually talk about these friends like I know them, even though I’ve only met a handful of them, but we tweet and comment and email, just like real-life friends! I’ve learned so much about photography, HTML, social media, web design, etc. And I got my current job because of my blog so I know it has at least paid off in one way/shape/form!

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I can’t say it enough. Thank you to every single person that reads my blog. I appreciate it more than you will ever know! 🙂

With Love,
Jessica

PS – Megan W actually made these cupcakes for my birthday, but we’ll pretend they’re for Bows & Sequins’ birthday. SO CUTE! 🙂

*Just to clarify: No, I don’t have a real baby. You’re looking at it.

PPS – Here is a great IFB read entitled “Why I Hate My Blog

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14 Comments

  1. 11.12.11
    Fashion By Alicia said:

    Happy Birthday Bows & Sequins!!

  2. 11.12.11
    ppfgirl said:

    Congrats – such an accomplishment to have made it a full year! Love your blog & am a faithful follower & supportive fellow blogger! 🙂

  3. 11.12.11
    Megan W. said:

    Thanks for the shout out sista! And CONGRATULATIONS on an entire year!!! So impressive, I’m very proud of you for all of your hardwork 🙂 This blog has definitely paid off and I have no doubt will bring more great things to come in your future! Love you and happy birthday!!!

  4. 11.12.11
    Neris said:

    this is such a cute post! Happy Birthday to your blog and here is to many many more 🙂

    xoxo,

    Fashion Fractions

  5. 11.12.11

    Happy Bloggie Birthday 🙂

    – Sara @ Gameday Stylist
    http://www.gamedaystylist.com

  6. 11.12.11
    Erica said:

    Happy Birthday Bows & Sequins!

    Your feelings at the beginning of your blog is EXACTLY how I feel about my own, just a few months in. I hope I have that same enthusiasm a year later! 🙂

    http://www.theprettyfactor.blogspot.com

  7. 11.12.11
    granny pantyhose trendsetter said:

    HB B+S! You better celebrate!!

  8. 11.13.11

    CONGRATULATIONS on Bows & Sequins turning one! Such a big accomplishment. I know what you mean about sometimes saying ‘Why am I’m doing this’ but it is definitely worth it. I enjoy reading your posts everyday!! 🙂

  9. 11.13.11
    Sorcha said:

    Congrats on the blog birthday. Bows & Sequins is definitely one of my favourite blogs. You just have such beautiful style.

  10. 11.14.11
    Kait said:

    So exciting! We sound so much alike. I didn’t tell anyone about my blog until I got an internship from it and now I’m about to start taking pictures of myself (im also camera shy!) we will see how those turn out! Haha. Great job on the blog & keep up the good work!

  11. 11.14.11

    girl- this sounds just like my blogging experience…My creative outlet, camera shy (didn’t show my face in my first 6 months of blogging), didn’t tell anyone about my blog, neighbors looking at me like “who does she think she is” hahah. I’ve grown so much just thru my blog! Now, I am so appreciative of the relationships I’ve made thru blogging (like you!) and couldn’t imagine a night without a late night blog sesh. XO

  12. 11.14.11

    Congratulations! To me, blogging is one of the best outlets, be it creative or “something else”, that I’ve found. I love coming to your blog daily to see what you’ve posted….you write with such an honest and genuine voice, it’s hard not to love all your posts!

    I hope B+S continues to grow even more over the next year!

  13. 11.14.11

    Happy Birthday to your blog!

    http://theleatherskirt.blogspot.com/

  14. 11.15.11
    Mae said:

    YAY! Happy birthday Bows & Sequins! Congrats girl!
    xx