If this blog is a child, at 16 years, it would be now a young adult, and quite possibly making the questionable decisions that all young adults make, while testing the boundaries of adulthood. Everyone at 16 years old thinks they know everything, that they can conquer the world, and that no one understands them LOL 😛
It struck me a week ago that my blog anniversary had once again, passed me by without my noticing. I checked back, and for the first time in 16 years, I failed last year to commemorate the day this blog was born. There was absolutely no record, and I don’t even know if I remembered it belatedly. What a travesty!
While I’m over a month late, I had to put a note to celebrate this milestone, for being on this ride for so long 🙂
Much about the blogging scene has changed over the years since I started in 2007, and it’s something I’ve noticed and written about in the past. It is inevitable that it grows and evolves over time. Many popular bloggers who were contemporaries have gone on to be brands of their own. Many have also left the scene, or prefer to be on social media platforms where most attention is focused on these days. Even brands aren’t as interested to work with those who primarily blog (as opposed to being on Instagram or Tiktok), as the content is perceived to not be as visible.
While I might have lamented this change over time in the past, I no longer do. Change is inevitable, and it isn’t always for the worse, even if it might feel that way for a while. When I recounted my 12th year of blogging, I felt a little disheartened with how things were going. I did not feel good enough for anything, much less blogging.
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I was in a rough place, and this showed in my blog and how I felt about it. But when that hump passed, I didn’t feel any worse. In fact, since then, I’ve felt better about just settling into a little niche I’ve carved for myself. It’s like settling into your favourite seat at the park, where your bum recognises every little bump and hollow in the seat, settling itself comfortably to watch the world go by, with your dog at your feet.
OK I lie about the dog bit. Mine would be champing at the bit, wanting to go and smell every smell, person, dog, cat, or bird he sees in the park 😛
So why continue blogging, or to even maintain this space?
It’s a question I’ve been asked over the years, especially when Instagram exploded on the scene, and now Tiktok – why blog?
My answer has always been – well, you still search for information on Google don’t you? I don’t know of anyone who goes to Instagram to search for anything (it’s a mess if you even try!). I’m told that Tiktok is searchable, but man, who has time (or energy) to be making videos all the time LOL! If I couldn’t even sustain a little dabble into YouTube, what makes you think I’d be able to survive Tiktok? 😛
The main reason I maintain this site is because it’s mine. Unlike a social media platform, where you are at the mercy of its owners and their whims and fancies (have you seen the shitshow that’s Twitter lately?!) you decide how you want your blog to look, and what you want to write in it. It could be the most inane of subjects, or it could be the most profound – but it’s yours.
The popularity of a social media platform will wax and wane, but your website is yours to populate, or leave barren as you will. Granted, you may never achieve the sort of popularity on a website/blog as you may on a social media platform these days as compared to before, but that will depend on the quality of your content, how helpful it is, and how relevant it is to people. Food recipe blogs do remain very popular, as recipes don’t change much over time, and people always need to eat. Tech, fashion, beauty or any subject that thrives on trends or current issues will go out of date often if it’s about product or a specific item/issue.
I’ve had my own share of ups, downs and frustrations with maintaining the blog, when sometimes it has felt like a chore. I’ve taken long leaves of absence, and I’ve shared my share of dubious opinions (people do change their views over time, when presented with new information you know). But it’s not something I ever thought to shut down, simply because it’s a fun little outlet I can look to, for a bit of a brain dump.
Some people have noticed that I’m a little more prolific recently than I have been in recent years (thank you for noticing!), and it is by conscious choice. I make it a point to write and shoot photos for 1 blog post a week, be it a product review, or a observation, or just a bit of musing. Sometimes, I share more than 1 post a week! It’s about maintaining a momentum, so I don’t fall into an inert state of being, where it is just easier to let things slide to a halt and get on with my life, than to write. Writing is not a chore – the photography and imagery is LOL!
Anyway, this pensive rambling is just me saying in a roundabout way “I cannot believe we’ve been here for 16 years!” 😀 For some of you, “I cannot believe you’ve been reading my blog for 16 years!”
I’ve met readers who started out as college students, and who are now parents (!); or who are like me, entering our middle-age part of life and navigating our white hair, dry skin and wondering if we’re perimenopausal LOL 😀 Whichever stage you are in life, if you’ve come across my blog and chose to stay for the ride because it’s one you’re on, or that resonates with you, thank you 🙂
It’s nice to know that I haven’t been just speaking into the ether these past 16 years.
xoxo
Paris B
Honestly, I’ll always take written reviews over video ones – easier to follow the content and reread at my pace! And I love your recommendations.?
Thank you Esther! I too prefer the written word. Easier to skim, and its easier and faster to read than to listen/watch something haha
Its always a nice surprise when there’s a new post in your blog 🙂
I have been following your blog since school days and now I am already a parent lol. With all those fast paced trends and happenings around us, your writings have always shown a calm and determined pace to me and its always a pleasure to read your posts.
Cheers to you Paris!
Thank you for the support Angie, and gosh! You’ve been around quite a while haha! Thank you for sticking by and for finding the content still relevant after all this time (and in this fast paced world!)
I continue to read your blog. I am not on Instagram or Facebook or TikTok. Please post your reviews.
Thank you Evie, I have no plans to go anywhere else for the moment 😀
I love your blog and has been following it for many years. I am missing many good blogs discovered years ago before IG and TikTok days. IG is great for photos but never good articles. TikTok is crazy in Hokkien…I wasn’t attracted to it in the first place, no matter the hype.
Happy Sweet 16! May you continue to grow gracefully….keep it up Paris.
Thank you for the support Nvie! I too miss many blogs (and blogger friends) from before. But I can understand how sometimes life can take over as time goes by so blogging isn’t as much of a priority anymore. I can just about handle IG. TikTok is just a foreign land and language to me haha! Thank you for chatting to me all these years!
Your article is always nice to read.
Enjoying the journey with you.
Happy sweet 16th. <3
Thank you for the long lasting support Christina!
Fellow blogger friend! 16 years huh?? I’m not far behind. This is my 14th year.. crazy how time just flew by and yea, the scene had definitely changed and even we have as well. From just using hydrating products but now we need more kau-kau products then only can see the result. LOL!! I’m glad through blogging, we’ve became friends and dog mums.
Haha yes! It’s been so long but I guess time flies when you’re having fun! Glad to have met you and to be buddies and dog mums together – at least someone who understands how crazy my forked can get haha!
I enjoy reading your posts a lot 🙂 cheers to many more years !
Thank you Savanna! Here’s to having more ideas on what to write about haha 🙂
I ENJOY YOUR POST BEST BECAUSE YOU ARE SO THROUGH
Thank you for the kind words! 🙂
Am a long time silent reader of your blog 🙂 been here since form 3 or 4 I think high school years and now I’m 30 years old 😀 .
and it’s true from all those years, your blog is “not just another beauty blog” 🙂
Thank you Qifa for being with me for so long! I’ve literally ‘seen’ you grow up! haha 😀
Happy Anniversary! Sorry for the late wish. Still here after more than 10 years reading.
I too prefer reading. All those tik toks or IG reels etc make my head spin from people talking so fast/too much. Those hook line too like I really don’t need so much drama when you just want to talk about stuff.
Hi Jue! Thank you for sticking by and there’s no apologies necessary! 😀 I too struggle with these short-form video. I swear it turns my brain to mush and affects my concentration! Yet, they are pretty addictive aren’t they? 🙁 As a small business, I can understand why it’s necessary, but I don’t necessarily have to like it!
Hi Paris
I’ve been silently reading your blog from the start, since I was 16! I remember reading your blog posts when I was away at college (I’m a makeup junkie and I don’t remember a lot of Malaysian beauty bloggers back then) and now I’m 32. Gosh, how time flies.
Looking back at your old posts it’s interesting to see how much makeup has changed (but your love for red lipstick is permanent haha)
I loved reading your lifestyle posts as well (Cooking at Chez PB is a favourite of mine).
Looking forward to many more blog posts from you!
Hi Siti Hajar, thank you so much for your kind words and I cannot believe we’ve literally grown up together through all your different stages of life! Thank you for still reading despite so much having changed in both my and your lives, and it’s so great to know that our love for beauty remain constant all this time 😀