Monday, August 15, 2011

Blogiversary and a huge THANK YOU Party

This is Jessie Humphries. Maybe you know her. She's a fabulous writer, incredibly fun blogger, and every bit as beautiful in real life as she is in her picture. I'm not even kidding. She also happens to be my blogging bff.

For everyone who blogs: I highly recommend having an awesome blogging bff. I think that every blogger runs into a really frustrating time when it feels like no one reads your blog. That all the work is for nothing. Jessie and I started blogging at the same time, so we ran into the same struggles and frustrations and successes at the same time. We talk about goals, give each other advice on handling unexpected things, comment on each other's blogs and cheer each other on. We both reached 100 followers on the exact same day. She had a big celebration thanking everyone on her blog. I had.... Quotes and Cookies. And well, okay, I'll admit: every day you have cookies is a celebration. But it definitely wasn't enough to thank you guys! Since I didn't on that day, I decided to wait for my blogiversary.

I entered the blogging world really late in the game. For a very long time I knew I needed a writing blog, but I kept procrastinating. I'd been blogging on a personal blog for years, so I had no misconceptions on how much time, effort, and stress it would take, or on how much writing time it would eat. Committing to it for me meant committing to do it full out-- five posts a week, along with putting every bit of effort into it that it required. I did not come into this blind. I knew exactly what to expect.

What I didn't expect was how much I would love it! What I didn't expect was YOU GUYS. I'd been lurking and commenting on writing blogs for years, so I already knew that the writing community was a great one. I mean, you guys are my people! We have so many of the same hopes, desires, dreams, struggles, frustrations, and successes. It wasn't until I plopped myself right down in the middle of the writing blog world, though, that I realized exactly HOW GREAT it is. How great my people are. How much I love getting to know you through reading your blogs and reading your comments on my blog. It doesn't matter that we live all over the world-- it feels like you all live right here.

So, to everyone who reads, comments, follows, links to, and / or lurks on my blog, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.You guys have made this worth every single second.

Okay, I think I've been up here, babbling and holding my fancy stemmed cup of sparkling cider, waiting to clink glasses long enough. Cheers! Now let's get to the party! Last time, we had a traditional block party, so I figured we'd go Chinese this time.

First, check out the parade with the awesome dragons!


Then we'll set off fancy lanterns into the night sky, because it is the greatest idea EVER.


Then we'll watch some Chinese fireworks!


And because a party just isn't a party without cookies and because I LOVE fortune cookies in the hugest way possible, for refreshments we are definitely having this classic.


Have a great day, everyone! And may all your fortunes say that fantastic things are about to happen to you.
.

21 comments:

Jennie Bennett said...

I have had those same feelings. Blogging peeps are the best! I am so glad I found this community to push me towards my goals!

Abby Fowers said...

Happy Blogiversary!!! That is so exciting. It IS so important to have a blog BFF cause it can be frustrating at times. I love both your blogs and look forward to lots more wonderful-ness to come! :D

linda said...

Congrats on the blogiversary! And I know what you mean; I lurked on writing blogs for years before I started blogging myself and was so overwhelmed by how amazing the writing community is. :) Love the photos of the lanterns and fireworks! They remind me of the time my friends and I lit our own in Taiwan.

Jenny S. Morris said...

Congratulations on your blogiversary! I love the party you've thrown. The laterns are my favorite. Have a great day!

Jessie Humphries said...

Oh Peggy! Peggy...Peggy...Peggy...You so totally are my blogging bff! Happy Blogiversary. Thanks for being so awesome. I am just riding your beautiful, blogging coat-tails.

Emily R. King said...

Happy blogiversary! I hope I make it as long as you have. Oh, and thanks for the fortune cookie! : )

Shilpa Mudiganti said...

Congratulations and happy blogiversary! Your posts are refreshing for me and hence, I return to it every day. Thank you for that! I hope you have another adventurous year at blogging.

Christina Lee said...

AWWW, i love this, esp. the laterns!! ((hugs))

Mark said...

Dragons and fortune cookies are indeed awesome:) Neat story about you and your bff. The blogging community definitely rocks:)

Small Town Shelly Brown said...

Oooh, I always like a good party.
This party was fun. Reminded me of home in San Francisco!
Glad I found you :)

Unknown said...

Great way to celebrate. What beautiful pix. Congrats Peggy!

David P. King said...

You are very welcome. :)

This blogging business was (and still is) a curious thing to work with, but I'm glad I'm here. I wouldn't be able to meet you or any of the other excellent writers who are in the same aspiring boat and helping to push others on the shores of success. I'm happy to be a part of your journey.

Chantele Sedgwick said...

Happy Blogiversary!! :D :D :D Love your bloggy party! And the cute pictures. And I want a cookie now. Have a wonderful day! ;)

Kristine said...

Congrats! And, I love reading/commenting/linking/lurking on your blog!

Jeff King said...

Nice post... I feel better about today!


http://authorsunion.blogspot.com

Alleged Author said...

You had me at lantern. :P

Kelley Lynn said...

Yay congrats!!

Love the party!

Lani Wendt Young said...

Congratulations Peggy and great party. I think the only people who really know and understand how much work, comittment and angst goes into maintaining a blog - are other bloggers. I have seen so many of my friends/family decide 'yeah, Im going to do a blog too!' and then 1,2,3 posts and they peter away into that place where all blogs go to die.It can also be frustrating for me when people dont always get how much time and effort goes into blogging. Reaching a blog anniversary is a great achievement. I found your blog late in the game, but am so glad that I did. Its always useful, entertaining and reminds me why being a writer IS a good thing. ( very useful on those dark days when being a writer totally sucks) Thank you for a great blog. Thank you for welcoming me into your writing community.

Carrie Butler said...

Congratulations on your blogiversary, Peggy! :)

Valentina Hepburn said...

Congrats, Peggy.

Peggy Eddleman said...

J.A.-- They are the best. It's amazing how much this community helps!

Abby-- Awww, thank you! That's so sweet!

Linda-- I can't believe how much of a different thing it is to lurk than it is to blog yourself! And I'm way jealous that you got to set off your own lanterns in Taiwan! I've always wanted to be at one of those celebrations and light my own. It always amazes me!

Jenny-- Thanks! They're my favorite, too.

Jessie-- Thanks again for being my blogging bff! You've been a sanity-saver.

E.R.-- Thanks! And you're welcome. :)

Shilpa-- Awww! Thanks for your kind words! That's so sweet!

Christina-- I'm so glad! Hugs right back at you.

Mark-- Thanks! And yes. It definitely rocks!

Small Town-- Yay for reminders of home! And I'm glad you found me, too. :)

Jennifer-- Thank you!

David-- I love the though of aspiring boat and pushing to the shores of success! We are definitely in this together, helping each other out. Thanks for all your help!

Chantele--Thanks! I hope your day is fabulous, too!

Kristine-- I love that you read/comment/link/lurk on my blog! You're the best.

Jeff-- Yay! And thanks!

Alleged Author-- Hehehe! Aren't they the best?!

Kelley-- Thanks! And yay!

Lani-- I love you. I'm glad you're part of my writing community, too!

Carrie-- Thank you!

Valentina-- Thanks!