Every year when I sit down around this time to write my blog anniversary post, I find I usually have something to talk about. A revelation perhaps, about how things are going, or just a look back at how far I’ve come. This year was different.
This year, the words wouldn’t come. I’m not sure why. I thought a milestone year like 10 YEARS writ in 10 feet high neon letters, would be an easy one to address. It turned out it wasn’t.
I’d looked forward to this year, 2017, with some anticipation in the past few months, knowing I’d be hitting one of the most major milestones for almost any blogger. But, 10 years of blogging and writing, in my case almost exclusively about beauty, has culminated in my being at a loss for words. I couldn’t seem to find the words to convey the enormity of the situation, and how much I truly appreciate that there are people who read, have been reading and are still reading My Women Stuff after all these years.
So, I’ve resorted to just a quick ramble here, just to say what I want to say, and hit the Publish button before words and courage fail me.
10 years sounds like a long time, and it is. It’s a full decade. It means that I’ve spent the better part of my 30’s into my 40’s researching, writing, and sharing my thoughts on various aspects of beauty, from an amateur, consumer standpoint. And I don’t even do it full time! 😀 Sometimes I get it right, and sometimes I get it wrong. Sometimes people agree with me, sometimes they don’t. That’s what happens when you set your thoughts and opinions down on paper (figuratively). Everyone will have an opinion and not everyone will have the same one as yours, which is fine by me.
But it’s that aspect of blogging that I’ve enjoyed, along with the opportunity to see how the backend of beauty is run, and discovering new products and brands. I love talking to the people behind the brands, to learn the science and technology behind a product, and to see makeup artists at work. I’ve been privileged to have met and spoken to some amazing makeup artists, cosmetics brand owners and experts in the field, and I try wherever possible to impart some of that information or knowledge to you through my blog, so that you may share in it too. I’ve read comments that say my blog’s “more serious” than others – I take that as a compliment because if I want to be trusted and taken seriously, wouldn’t I have to be a little “more serious”? Besides, it’s just who I am. I’m a serious person 🙂
What I’ve enjoyed most about blogging in the 10 years that I’ve been doing it, is the interaction with all of you reading this. It’s opened up my world in so many ways, allowing me to meet so many different people near and far, from different areas of life. I’ve met some of you over the years be it at events or just over coffee or lunch, and it’s always a pleasure. Some of the best friends I have now, I met through blogging, and they come from diverse backgrounds and even different age groups. They’re people I’d probably never have met, had I not fatefully hit publish on a blog post, sending it out in to the ether, back in 2007. Funny how life works out eh? 🙂
A reader recently contacted me and in the course of conversation, told me that she’d been reading my blog since she was in secondary school (high school) which I hazard would put her in her late teens at the time. She’s now 25 and a young lady embarking on her own adventure in the world. When I mentioned it on Twitter, I received some feedback that some had been reading MWS from the time they were in their late teens till now in their mid-late 20’s. 2 things struck me at this point. One, I’m almost old enough to be their mother! 😛 Two, I had been talking to these young women, who were at a very impressionable age when they ventured upon my blog and ramblings. I can only hope I didn’t lead them too far astray (except into the wild ways of luxury for which I’m somewhat notorious 😛 )
And this is why I say, and have said often, that bloggers have to be responsible people, and we owe a duty to our readers to be honest and critical. We just don’t know who are reading our blogs, and how much we can influence the way they think or approach life in general. Merely blogging or putting pretty pictures up, just for the sake of staying on the good side of the brands, or to be paid, without believing in what you write or tell people you really use, is irresponsible. Many people turn to social media these days in the belief that the blogger or Instagrammer or whatever new social media tool comes next, knows what they’re talking about and vouch for the product or service. But if you’ve never tried it or you’re just shilling it as a must-have because you’re getting paid, or so you can cement your relationship to get future freebies, that’s irresponsible behaviour.
As much as I encourage everyone to read beyond what I say, or what anyone else says, to form their own opinions, there will always be people who place their trust implicitly in you. Don’t abuse that trust. If you aren’t sure, just say you aren’t sure. If you don’t believe in something, don’t pretend that you do. What my time in blogging has taught me is that people from different age groups will read your blog and some will be more impressionable than others. If you’re going to call yourself an “influencer” (a title I abhor) use that influence for good.
You’re 10 today, have some cake! 🙂
As I watch the blogging landscape change in the 10 years I’ve been doing this since 2007, I have to confess a slight nostalgia for the way things were and used to be. When people wrote blogs because they wanted to share a new find, or information or tips. Today, I’ve learned that not only are blogs not in demand anymore, there are popular “influencers” and “content creators” who don’t even take their own photos, who move around with a personal photographer, and who get by copy and pasting press releases or writing obscure one-word captions on Instagram in a vague fulfilment of their duty as “influencers”. The blogging world has changed and while I’m disappointed in it, and I used to rail against this change, I no longer want to care. Yep, you read that right. I don’t want to care about what others are doing to get where they want to be.
What I realised in recent years, is that fame and popularity trumps everything and people who are on the up-and-up have no scruples. If I allowed it to bother me, that people out there are buying followers and likes to inflate their social media profile counts, or are promoting dubious products and services or that despite this fakery they are feted at events and showered with free stuff, I’d give up and retire. I almost did.
But I thought it was dumb of me to let what’s happening out there affect how I feel about doing what I enjoy i.e. beauty and writing and blogging in general. So, I stuck to my beliefs, turning down products and services I had no confidence nor interest in, and I was fine. I blogged in my own time, to my own schedule, about what I wanted, and I was fine. I spoke with blunt honesty, and called out bullshit and I was fine. I still work and blogging still isn’t a full time venture for me, and yes. I was fine. Better than fine, I thrived in my independence, away from the maddening crowd.
You see, a large part of why I’m still here 10 years down the road, is thanks to all of you who are reading this, and who are reading and keeping up with my blog and who tell me you appreciate what I do. You may not agree with what I say, or you may find it helpful. But you talk to me about it, you share your views or tips or you ask questions, and I appreciate that you do. The comments section is so important to me, because that’s how I know if I’m doing something right, and it’s also where I’ve seen people interact with one another, to help out when I don’t know the answers. In a major way, MWS has always been a positive place, and I try to extend that to the comments where you reside.
I’ve also noticed that MWS readers are a little, dare I say, more mature in your outlook on life. Many of you think, and ask me really hard questions that I sometimes cannot answer. Many of you are sensible, smart consumers and when I post a discussion topic, you weigh in with calculated, thought out views. Many of you are beauty buffs just like me, and introduce me to brands and products I might never have thought about trying. I enjoy that interaction and I thank you for taking your time to share those thoughts with me because it matters to me. If there’s one thing that 10 years in the blogging world has taught me, it’s that you can’t buy that kind of genuine interaction and engagement 🙂
So, THANK YOU everyone. It’s been quite a decade – thank you for being there all these years, and better yet, being right here with me right now 🙂 As I say on my Instagram profile, ‘I write, if you read’ – thank you for reading My Women Stuff, and now I better stop writing LOL! 😀
xoxo
Paris B
Even though I’ve retired from blogging, I do still tune into the same blogs I followed over the past 10 years (for those blogs that are still alive!) as I prefer “the original beauty blogs” over newer ones and magazines to stay up to date on beauty trends. I hope you will continue to allow us to enjoy your writing for many more years!
Thanks for leaving a comment Yishan and for reading 🙂 It was a pleasure meeting you before your retirement! 😀
wah you’ve lasted more than some of us put together! ? congrats on the milestone, and here’s to many more years to come!
Thanks Bee and you know, this means we’ve known each other LONGER than 10 years! All because of a Terry’s Chocolate Orange 😀
I can’t thank you enough for all the beautiful, intelligent, thoughtful, well written, incredible posts you’ve done over the years. I’ve been reading you for 10 years and it never gets old, there’s always something incredible to read on My Women Stuff and I look forward more years to come 🙂 Thank you for your hard work!!!!!!!
You are far far too kind Iz! I’m so happy to have “met” you and to share the Google dance with you over the years (even if it makes us want to tear our hair out haha!) Some day I hope to make it to NY and meet you in person (coz you eat all these amazing food and I just have to know where!) Here’s to your grand 10 as well! We’re the grand ol’ dames of blogging eh? LOL!
congrats and I hope you continue to share your beauty finds, likes and dislikes! I’ve been following your blog since my twenties and have just hit 30 😉
Thank you Shamim 🙂 So many of us have had our numbers change eh? Ah, aging – it gets us all one way or another 😛
Happy 10th Anniversary to MWS and you PB for a decade of blogging success!!! Now that you mentioned it, since I started reading your blog, I have changed boyfriend, changed job, met a new guy, got married and had a baby and moved to a new country lol..all these while MWS reviews remain a steadfast staple. I tried out many products you recommended and the recent ones that come to mind are Sunday Riley Good Genes, REN, Bourjouis Healthy Foundation and the Rose Cleansing Stick and many more over the years. Been a reader since 2007 and as an introvert, been mainly silent. My favorite posts from you has to do witth skincare, bags and fashion…you definitely have a knack for writing and we trust your opinions as you are honest and call a spade, spade. Anyway here’s wishing MWS more decades to come!!! Cheers and Salute from Switzerland ?? 😉
Hi Klee, and gosh so much has happened in your life! Congratulations on the new baby and for moving to Switzerland! It’s one of the countries I hope to visit some day. There’s something about the alps that’s calling to me (but the cost!! Will have to penny pinch more) I hope you’ve found the products useful for you especially because I can’t imagine what it must be like having cold weather for so many months in a year. Well, actually I can, but I haven’t experienced it in a while haha! Maybe I too have to move eh? 😉 Thank you for reading and the support all through the years! <3
HI Paris! I may not post much comments on your website/blog, but I have been much a silent reader for most of your posts! I can’t even remember when I stumbled upon your blog few years back on what sort of topic/posts! Like you mentioned above, been reading your blog when I was in college and now I’m in my mid late 20s!
I have to say I prefer a beauty blogger with an honest and serious feedback/opinions better than so called ‘influencers’ that can’t even provide much details to made you judge whether if is worth every penny for the item. So, please do keep writing and congratulations!!
More years to come MWS! Sending loves from Macau!
Hi Fiona, thank you for your kind words and for the support through the years! I can’t believe how many young women I’ve “seen” grow up through the years. It almost makes me feel all teary eyed haha! 😀 I will keep doing this as long as I enjoy it, and I thank you for reading it all <3
Congratulations Paris on your blog’s 10th year anniversary 🙂 Your blog is the only beauty blog that I visit these days and I have lost count of the amount of skincare and makeup products that I have bought from your recommendations. You are such an enabler but a good one of course.
Your blog was the first beauty blog that I have discovered 4.5 years ago and which led me to reading other beauty blogs and sharpening my research skills on the internet. My enhanced research skills from reading so much about the beauty world taught me patience when I needed to research about breastfeeding, baby wearing, the type of car seat I should buy, starting solids for my boy, cooking (which I had zero knowledge before) and now to my latest interest, Essential Oils. So I would like to thank you for indirectly influencing me to research, discern and read stuff on the internet which has assisted me greatly in my life. Just letting you look at another angle on how your blog has influenced another person’s life 🙂
Here is wishing and hoping that you will continue with this lovely blog for another 10 years 🙂
Thank you so much Victoria! I must say that I actually enjoy being called an enabler as opposed to an influencer hehe… Same thing, but different somehow. Gosh, I didn’t realise that reading blogs would take you so far, but wow, thanks for sharing that with me! I have to say that I actively support people doing their research on things they are interested in, because that’s what I do as well. Not everything will work for everyone, but often, reading a wide cross section of opinions can help us form a better opinion. Same with life 😉 I’m glad we’ve had the opportunity to meet 🙂 Thank you again for the support through the years! 🙂
happy anniversary, silent reader here and congrats on a milestone!
love from Ozzie land!
Thank you Miss Sim! And thank you for delurking! <3
I got a bit teary eyed reading this entry. So happy that you decides to do what you do, and we can also benefit from it to. So, thank you Paris!
Keep on writing, and we’ll be here and keep on reading. 🙂 🙂 🙂
And I got a bit teary eyed reading your comment, Aishah 🙂 Thank you so much!
Thank you! Your blog is the ‘one and only” local blog I read. Please keep on writing! – I Ying
Thank you so much for the support I Ying! <3
Happy birthday MWS! I‘m one who started reading in high school- this was (still is!) my go-to blog for help in navigating through the thickets of skincare products and, now that I have a steady income, makeup and fragrances . In a way, you were my inspiration to work hard and be able to try out nice things while being practical.
I’m kind of ashamed to admit that I’ve been a silent reader all along, save for occasional retweets and instagram likes, but I always always look forward to new posts. Nothing like a good read to make my morning commute brighter 🙂
Wishing you well Paris, and to many more years ahead! xx
Hi there Miauberry! 🙂 Wow, you were reading from high school? I’m starting to feel my age now, and am just wondering how many young women I’ve led astray since haha! But I’m glad to have been an inspiration of some sort and not deemed to have been flaunting it 😛 Don’t be ashamed for not leaving comments. I realised that not everyone likes to leave a comment, because sometimes there isn’t much to say. But I do appreciate the interaction on Twitter or Instagram as well, as I understand that’s where the new comments go 🙂 Thank you for sticking by and for reading. It means a lot to me! <3
Indeed! 2007 or 2008, I think? I was battling adolescent skin furor on a tiny student budget, and it was your thoughtful, insightful posts that greatly helped me overcome that period of insecurity, both skin- and financial-wise. So thank *you*, for all these years <3 have a great day 🙂
You know, I wish I was around when I was battling teenage acne. I was the quite literal pizza face and had nowhere to turn cos I’d never even heard of dermatologists then (small town girl, small budget LOL) 😛 Yay for technology right?
Hi Paris! Congratulations on your decade of blogging. Sounds like a long time, but when you’re doing what you love, I’m sure 10 just flew by. The social media / blogging scene will be ever changing, such are fleeting trends and the beauty world but who knows what will happen in another 5 or 10 years? Imagine blogging when you’re 50 years old! That’d be awesome 🙂 So here’s to another 10, Paris. *pops champagne*
Thank you Lily 🙂 In some ways, yes the time flew by. In other ways, it’s seen me through a lot of ups and downs. We just have to do what we can the best we can! 🙂 p/s Next time you’re in KL and have some free time, hit me up! We can do lunch and go check out the Chanel boutique haha! 😛
Happy 10 years Paris! Keep doing you!
Thank you so much Ling! Pity I missed you last I was in Melbourne!
Happy Anniversary Paris 🙂
I stumbled upon your blog during my high school years where my skin is in the state of ‘as hell breaks loose’. Can’t believe I am turning 24 this year and my, how time flies!
I read a lot, and that includes all those blogs. But yours is the only one where I have stayed with all these years and I still visit your page everyday in hope for a new post LOL.
It’s been truly a wonderful experience to get to know mywomenstuff and it’s not just beauty that draws me, but also wisdom that is imparted between those lines. Your reviews and posts have always felt genuine and real. And will I always still frequent this page ? As Professor Snape quoted:
“Always”
Thank you so much Angie! Goodness, another young one I ensnared in my little trap haha! Thank you for staying with me all this time. I truly appreciate the support and the the sharing of information. I like to think that it’s not just a one way street of me talking, but a discussion. I learn lots from all of you too! 🙂 Thank you again <3
I’ve been reading your blog since I was a college kid. I’m in my 30s now and even after becoming a mom and moving halfway and cross the world I still check in to see what you’ve been using so I can check it out! Thank you for staying true to what you enjoy!
Thank you so much Russberri 🙂 I appreciate that my blog has travelled further than I have ever been, and for that I have all of you to thank! Thank you for all the support <3
I accidentally popped into your blog when I was surveying on beauty skincare.
It was like 8-9 years ago after I have just delivered my son.
I enjoy reading all your posts, but I rarely comment 😛
Congratulations & Happy 10th anniversary Paris
Thank you for staying true and passionate in blogging
Well, thank you for commenting this time, Peggy! 😀 Thank you so much for reading and for continuing to read. I will try not to disappoint and you know, that makes your son now 8-9 years old! :O
You will never disappoint your readers, Paris.
I’m glad that I found you (hahaha… sounds like confessing love)
Awww *cue pink clouds and music* hehe <3
Happy 10 Blogging Years Paris! 😀
I can’t even remember how I stumbled across your blog… but I’m so glad I did! I still look forward to reading your posts and find them creatively inspiring 🙂 The honesty in your critiques is refreshing, so you should feel proud of what you have built! Thank you for being you 🙂 Xo
Hi Sylvia, thank you so much! It’s been lovely getting to you know you (albeit online) and some day, I hope to be able to meet you! 🙂
Wow! What a milestone, Paris! Congratulations ?
Yours is practically the only beauty blog I read and it’s because you keep it so real. Keep it up!
Thank you Yu Ming. Be careful, my head might swell LOL! 😉
Congratulations! I’ve been following your blog off and on since I’ve started working 9 years ago at 19. It’s one of the best written and honest blog I’ve come across for local content. It’s very much comparable to international content. Here’s wishing for another 10!
Thank you Verona! And you were 19! Goodness 🙂 I do strive to keep things to a high standard so I’m very happy that you think my blog is of an international standard. 😀 I’d be happy to say I’ll be around for another 10 years except that’d put me in my 50’s by then and I’m just not sure LOL! 😀
Firstly, I would like to congratulate you for blogging for 10 years!! In my opinion, that’s perseverance and a whole lot of patience. I still remember we met thru a La Mer event and I’ve been a silent reader of your blog. Actually we’ve been friends too! (Not the competitive kind) =D
I totally get what you mean by the blogging scene has definitely changed. Like you, I still believe in sharing the right information and not just because it was paid or sponsored. Yup, you were fine, you are totally fine and will be just fine. Keep up the great work babe and we will see each other soon!
Hi Yen, thank you so much for the kind words! Yes, I most certainly remember meeting you at the La Mer event too and it’s been a pleasure getting to know you since. Oh yes, no competition (I could never compete with your stylish fashion or model-height anyways! LOL!) I’ll be seeing you soon I’m sure! 😉