3 Years ago, after 5 years of watching other people’s youtube videos and reading other people’s blogs I finally took the plunge and set my first post live on my slice of the internet. I don’t think I would have ever expected that I’d still be blogging now when I published my first post sat in my bedroom when we still lived with my in-laws and were saving for our mortgage.
Helpless Whilst Drying started as something that was just for me, a place for me to talk about the nail polishes in my collection (at a time to try and stop me buying more by using what I had – which did work for a limited period of time). Going back to those posts now they’re absolutely horrible, but they’re a part of my history, whilst other’s delete and curate the embarrassing stuff over time, I don’t ever want to, it’s part of where it got me here. After a year of just polishes that I started expanding, more and more to where I am today, and with a little community that I love.
Over the past year, my relationship with my blog has definitely transitioned – I treat my blog seriously – with the respect that it deserves being a now, three year old little drama queen. During it’s terrible twos I changed up my theme and redesigned my header to something that feels more me – I invested in a new camera, lenses & editing equipment (the one missing piece is a ring light, which I’m hoping to get in February). My blog has gone from being “just something I do” to almost a part time job in the commitment I give it, and it’s something I’m lucky to have that makes a bit of money here and there but only when the opportunity is right. I love it and it still feels like the best hobby in the world.
I spent more time this year working on improving my skills – both photography and application of makeup, plus learning how to use new equipment at my disposal, mostly through experimentation. I’ve learnt whilst I hate using boring marble backgrounds (I know some love them!) – they do come in handy for being the easiest point of reference when the British grey clouds loom over and everything needs colour correcting. I’ve been invited to huge events with brands and bloggers that have left me standing in a middle of the room wondering ‘how did I get this invite’ and walked away from those events feeling utterly inspired with new friends in tow too.
I decided to take my social media more strategically over the past 3 months and have seen my followers on both instagram and twitter triple as a result, the numbers still aren’t huge but I know what I’m doing is right and working. I decided I’m not going to confine myself to instagram themes and if I post a photo without a white background, I notice myself loose 10 followers over the course of an hour. But I did realise that those aren’t the kind of followers I want, so that’s fine by me.
Somehow I’ve managed to keep up with almost posting daily, I’ve always said I would start reducing when I felt like I didn’t have enough to talk about or quality would suffer, but I’ve kept myself well planned with a huge bank of photographs ready to pull out and talk about once I’ve discovered when I love or hate the product.
I’ve expanded from just chatting about beauty and the odd fashion haul to talking about everything that I love. I want to do more of this in 2017, with plans of introducing baking, more fashion & OOTDs, and including more aspects of my life. In 2016 I hoped to start up a Youtube channel – but made the decision that I didn’t have the time after getting engaged 2 weeks after making the goal. Instead I’ve poured my all into my blog, late nights, sundays blocked out for photography – endless lunchtimes at work spent catching up writing posts.
The past few months I’ve found it really difficult keeping my own blog up to date, alongside following and commenting on everyone else’s. The final stages of wedding planning definitely encroach on everything way more than I anticipated – hopefully, once June has flown by I can start concentrating on all the things I want to do but will take more of my time to get off the ground.
My Favourite Posts of The Past Year
Welcome to the Inbetweenie Club it Sucks
My #OOTS – Outfit of the Summer
Violet Voss Drenched Metals Palette
10 Times Cheaper: W7 Palette vs MAC Amber Times Nine
MAC Dionysus Liptensity Review
Autumn Fashion & Accessories Haul
This post is going up on my 27th Birthday (fuck, I’m now in my late twenties), this year is set to see some big changes for me personally and I’m planning on taking you along for the journey. If you’ve been here for all 3 years, or just 3 days – Thank you. Every comment brings me such joy an here’s to seeing what the fourth year of blogging brings.
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Email: helplesswhilstdrying@gmail.com
Happy blogiversary! Love you blog can’t wait to see more from you x
Happy blogiversary!! Congratulations on reaching an amazing milestone! Also happy birthday!! Have a fab day! Xxxx
Happy blogiversary!! 💕
Happy Blogiversary! <3
Happy Blognniversary! I always love reading your posts as they’re full of interesting topic and very informative too! Looking forward to more years in this blogging world! Congrats on another amazing year and years to come! 😍
Thanks so much! I was just behind you on your second! x
You’re welcome! And yes True..😁 cheers to more blogging years to come.
Happy Blogiversary! Big 3! I always enjoy reading your posts. To many more successful years!
Oops, happy birthday 😀
Thank you! x
Happy blogiversary!!!! :D! Congratulations and keep on going!
Happy birthday as welll!!! Duhhh, have a fabulous day!
Hahah, thank youuuuuuu!
Thanks hun!x
Happy 3rd Blogiversary! 😀
It’s always tempting to go back to re-do some posts but like you said, it’s part of your history – and it shows growth.
The whole social media numbers game is one I refuse to play – it’s too exhausting. I’m a blogger first and foremost, not trying to be everything to everyone.
And Happy Birthday, you old hag. 😛
Exactly – I like seeing how my passion and ability has changed since post one! I used instagram filters to review a nail polish on first post – WHAT WAS I THINKING!
Totally agree with you, I’d rather have a group of people who genuinely follow and like anything that I post rather than people who follow for a few days in the hope I’ll follow them back!
Thanks Pal, Decided that I’m actually going to be 25 again this year, and I’ll start aging again next year
Congrats . It’s funny how sometimes you think writing one article might take you an hour or so and you find yourself working on it for hours. 😂
Happy 3rd blogiversary☺ xx
Happy Blogiversary!
Happy blogiversary & happy birthday! 27? Girl you’re a kid to me (I’m in my early 40s). My blog turns 3 this spring.
Haha, I think it’s just because I’m now classing myself as late twenties rather than mid twenties!
Happy blogiversary AND happy birthday! The time and effort you put into your blog really shows. Keep it up!
It’s all a learning experience! And thank you for the giveaway and your support!
Congratulations on the third year!
All the best for the future!!!
Yeee!! Happy 3rd Blogiversary!! Cheers <3
Thank you! Xx
I’ve been reading your blog for so long, and even though I don’t always comment I love reading your posts! It’s one of my favorite things to watch other bloggers grow with me, I just hit 3 years in 2016 too! All the best for you and your blog and many more years to come!
Congratulations!! That is amazing! ❤😊 xx
Thanks Katie!
You’re welcome Rachael! 🙂
What an inspiring post!! Happy blogiversary and birthday!
Thank you! X
Happy Blogiversary!! What an amazing milestone! I love reading your posts
Thanks Nikita! x
Happy 3rd blogging birthday! Keep up all your hard work ❤
Thank you! x
Congratulations! I started blogging a few months ago, so now totally appreciate the effort and passion it takes! Happy 3rd blogiverssary! H x
Thanks so much Hayley! x