Today marks my 2 year blogoversary! And while the 2nd year often has a nasty reputation when it comes to human development, dubbed the “terrible twos,” I’ve found that with blogging this is quite the opposite when it comes to creative life development. There’s nothing terrible about your 2nd year in the blogosphere. You only get better, so it only gets better! And when you do stumble along the way (as you’re bound to do), you have the perfect outlet to find your way.
When it comes to reflections on why I blog and how it’s changed me, I feel the same way I did when I reached my first milestone this time last year. I won’t rehash what I said there (because I think I said it as eloquently and succinctly as I ever could); but I’ll re-assert the idea that this site, my space among the cosmos as I think of it, still keeps me on my toes, learning and growing, fulfilling myself in creative expression and building a voice that I am proud of.
What I like about All That Glitters is that I don’t think it follows a genre, per say – though many “blogger rules” say this is a no-no. If you’re a fashion blogger, you blog about fashion. If you’re a beauty blogger, beauty. And a travel blogger, well, better keep things as exotic as possible. I hate being put into any kind of a box in my life, so I refuse to do it here.
If I were to characterize myself, I’d say I’m a lifestyle blogger, though I realize that the contradiction here is that I am, in fact, placing myself into a box by simply even calling myself this. I looked up the definition of “lifestyle” and got “the way people live at a particular time and place.” Taking this definition into account and perhaps also adding a spin to it in my mind of “how people live,” makes this particular characterization appeal to me. I think of it simply as blogging about “life.” And “life” is a term that covers every facet involved with it, giving me the freedom to use this space however my imagination chooses.
I choose it all.
In celebration of All That Glitters‘ 2nd birthday – I spent quite a bit a time looking over my blogging journey this last year, re-visiting old posts and smiling fondly at great moments along the way (with admittedly, a few of those “what was I thinking?” moments, too).
These are my most favorite posts since my 1st blogoversary, not in any particular order. I hope you’ll enjoy looking back on them with me today as I raise a glass and say cheers!
Journey of a Dress: From Princess to Fashion Legend · April 7, 2014
…to Downtown LA We Go · July 23, 2014
A New Perspective on Stress & A First World Problem · September 17, 2013
Back to the Future, Living in the Past · June 25, 2014
You Can’t Eat Beauty · March 5, 2014
A Day in the Garden · October 23, 2013
Highlights · July 11, 2014
Photo Diary: Happy Birthday in Ojai · May 12, 2014
The Big Picture: A Night at the Oscars · September 4, 2013
100 Happy Days: The End · July 9, 2014
Where Bookworms Go To Party · April 14, 2014
3 Years at Bottega Louie · January 30, 2014
Thank you so much for helping me make it to year 2! Onward, my friends…
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*Image credit: “Let’s cheers…” by nImAdestiny, used under CC BY / text added from original.
All That Glitters 
Happy Blogoversary! I too struggle with not fitting perfectly into a specific category. But I keep reminding myself that despite all the ‘blogging rules’, at the end of the day it’s really just about doing something I love. So I really shouldn’t care.
I love the definition you found for lifestyle because it actually suits my blog quite well. :o)
I love your blog and I think the best thing about it is your personality and writing. Have a lovely weekend.
xx
V
Well said, V! As long as you’re happy with what you’re writing about on your site, who cares? It’s your space. You’ll attract the right people by just being yourself. The best quote I ever read when it comes to blogging is to “write the blog you would read.”
And thank you so much for your sweet comment! It made me smile. Have a fabulous weekend! 🙂
Congratulations!!!