30 March 2010

five!



five years ago today, I started this blog. after months of mercilessly teasing my husband about his, I finally broke down and started my own. and I didn't really know what I was doing or why I was even doing it, I just knew I wanted to do it. I wanted my own space, someplace where I didn't owe anyone anything, where I could write about whatever I wanted, share whatever I wanted and shamelessly post work.

in those first days, you could mostly find me holding a little baby ezra in one arm while typing with the other. thus, the lack of capitalization here. my affinity for lowercase letters has nothing to do with cuteness and everything to do with necessity. simply put, it's a habit born out of necessity. I found it nearly impossible to capitalize letters while typing with one hand and holding a baby in the other. and who was even reading my blog anyway? but five years later and baby ezra is no longer attached to my hip. I continue to run with the lowercase here because I am a girl who likes visual consistency. and, as I said before, this is a place where I call the shots. I pretty much love that, much as I pretend that I don't.

five years later and I'd like to think I still operate from that same place of independence. I write about what I want, when I want. welcome to the land of the ebb and the flow. quite frankly, I wish there was less ebb and more flow but I refuse to bow to convention. the day it becomes a chore here is the day I end it. and I can't help but wonder, is that day coming? exactly how long does this sort of thing go on? I don't know. but I'm all about seeing it through to the end, whenever that may be.

also, I'm amazed that I have any readers at all. mostly because of that pesky ebb and flow thing but also because I occasionally tend towards the cryptic and am often a little all over the place. in case I have not said it, thank you for reading. or in many cases, looking. I realize I am less with the words these days and more with the images, thanks to a little thing called change. at any rate, thank you. for all kind words and support, I thank you.

but the best part about today? I totally used it as an excuse to buy five cupcakes. to photograph and share here, of course. because that's the thing about blogging. it tends to lead to all kinds of goodness. five years worth, to be exact.

74 comments:

  1. happy anniversary! i think five cupcakes is an excellent way to celebrate.

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  2. That last paragraph is it. IS. IT. It's so funny how one of the big criticisms about blogging is that it tethers its authors to the computer, instead of going out to live their lives. In my case, I've found it to be the opposite: it is amazing how much blogging has provided me inspiration to go out and DO.

    Happy blogoversary friend. It is because of our blogs that I found you, and for that, I will be forever grateful.

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  3. Five years plus five cupcakes... yep, this is one very good mathematical equation.

    Congratulations!

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  4. Happy happy! So glad that you've continued this crazy blog thing. 5 years? Amazing.

    Love you, xoxoxox,
    me

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  5. Happy anniversary to your lovely little blog that I so enjoy reading, and to you, for keeping at it. High fives all around.

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  6. i'm not quite sure how i came across this here space of yours, but, i did, and i think i have changed because of it, so, really, i want to thank you.

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  7. Happy 5! Beautiful photograph with words that are so honest and wonderful. Always a huge pleasure to view your posts and especially your Polaroids.

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  8. Thanks for the 2+ years of eye candy and fun that Ive had since I found your blog :o) Love your cheeky wit, and your lists! happy blogoversary! Hope to see 5 more! {{HUGS}}

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  9. congratulations! your blog is so inspiring and uplifting, may there be at least 5 more years of it!


    www.shirinhandmade.com/blog

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  10. I for one am very glad you are here, whether it's written or image.

    And I hope you ate the cupcakes.

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  11. Beautiful! Happy 5 years of blogging - congrats!!

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  12. oh happy day!

    its because of your blog that i met you so yay for that and for five beautiful years!

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  13. such a great story. thanks for that. love your photos too. congrats on five years. and congrats on keeping it real. not an easy feat.

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  14. Happy happy anniversary! Thank you for sharing such beautiful words and images. (And hooray for cupcakes!)

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  15. Congrats on your five dedicated years! And the photo is delicious. :)

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  16. yes to blogging goodness! (and to cupcakes.) thanks so much for all your inspiration... and for going with the ebb and flow. (i've been visited by a lot of ebb lately, and your sticking with it is an encouragement to me!) :) many congratulations!

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  17. I don't remember how I came across your blog but some how I did some point during 2007 and it made me want my own space so I got my own space and it makes me happy and yours was the first blog I ever added to my reader when I started following blogs and you words and images and lists and honesty always make me happy. Thank you!

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  18. Wow! What a wonderful landmark. I don't know where I'll be in 5 months, let alone 5 years, but I'd like to think I will still be lovin' my blog! Very inspiring!

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  19. happy anniversary... and in honour of this day I am also going to have five cupcakes... in fact we all should :) love your blog. i hope i am as keen in five years... thanks for setting the bar high :)

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  20. It's so nice to read about blogs that have a great story behind them. To many more years of wonderful blogging!

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  21. i rarely comment here but i love bringing your space into mine. so, thank YOU.
    xo

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  22. I love the ebb and flow and I have been touched SO much by your life! Thank you for being YOU.

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  23. Happy Five, Andrea! Holy cow. I found you when you were a year old and you were my idol of blogging (I was so shy then). And you still are.

    I am so glad you started. I got a few great big hugs from you in November because of it. Cheers and here's to many more!

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  24. happy birthday, blog! i hope the end isn't near, because i love your ebb. or flow. whatever it happens to be :)

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  25. Such a sweet post! I love your explanation of why you write in lowercase - that totally makes sense!! Congratulations on your 5 years of blogging. Hope there are many more to come :)

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  26. Happy, happy blogoversary! Cupcakes are completely called for (as they are in just about every situation).

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  27. Happy anniversary to you, and to us your lucky readers. You are an inspiration because you write out of want and not out of must. Thank you Andrea for opening your beautiful world to us.

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  28. Happy blogiversary gorgeous! xox

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  29. all well and good! now, how about those lists?

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  30. Happy birthday! I'd love to share some of those cupcakes with you... ;)

    I just started my blog three months ago and reaching even one year seems so far away, let alone five. I'm really impressed by you! Hope it keeps being fun for you... :)

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  31. so glad you exist. you make the world a beautiful place.

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  32. Happy anniversary!! I just started reading your blog and it puts a smile on my face... Inspirational. Have fun celebrating!

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  33. thank you for sharing all the goodness! all the awesomeness in this blog has inspired me so much. :)

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  34. Thank you for all you share! I hope that this blog continues for a long time!

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  35. congratulations. i appreciate you sharing your artistry (photography, storytelling) about your life adventures. truly inspiring. feliz cinco años.

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  36. congrats!! time flies when you're having fun :)

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  37. I found your blog a few months ago and what I love about it is that you write! So many pretty blogs are just pretty pictures of shit to buy and if there is indeed writing it's just a pitch to buy someone's pretty something. Your blog proves to be beautiful and inspiring without having to resort to sales spiels to draw readers. Congrats!

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  38. first of all, the cupcakes. i had a sudden craving for them late last sunday night, when it's difficult to get just about anything in bern, and i've been thinking about starting my own business. 24 hour cupcake service, delivered when an emergency.
    on that random note, glad i somehow found you... happy blogday!

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  39. celebrating with you from CA! and am thankful for your words and pictures. they are how i begin each day. i enjoy your truths (with yourself and your 'readers').

    on my way to your lovely city tomorrow morning! nia, powell's and a bunch of gems i've gathered from your blog. let the goodness beGIN!

    happy windsday, gh!

    jennifer (dreaming tree)

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  40. thank you for being inspiring!

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  41. Holy crap! 5 years?! Congrats! I often wonder how long something like blogging lasts as well, but I too am enjoying the ride while it lasts (however long that may be). Anyways, happy 5 year bday Hula!

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  42. five. that's a milestone.
    so glad you are here to ebb and flow as you please

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  43. and you continue to inspire my friend.
    thank you for that!
    enjoy those cupcakes, mmmm.

    hugs~

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  44. Congratulations on so much - including ebbing with the flow. I hope there are only crumbs left on that plate.

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  45. hooray for cupcakes and (more importantly) hooray for you.

    i adore you hula. hope our paths cross again sometime

    xxx

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  46. happy blog birthday! That is quite an accomplishment, we just had our first anniversary. I don't know about you but I love how the blog has become this new entity in my life - for expression, for writing, for fun, all mine.
    enjoy the cupcakes!

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  47. Congrads! :) What a landmark!! Also - love the lowercase letter explanation. he he. Yay!

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  48. I love your blog! I don't think I've ever told you but I have been reading for a while and the 5 year anniversary seems like a good time to finally mention that I think you are awesome.

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  49. Congratulations on 5 lovely years! :)

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  50. your blog is great, you're funny and i really enjoy reading it! congratulations!

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  51. Happy anniversary...i dont feel so bad now...i am constantly typing with a baby in hand!

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  52. YAY!! you make me smile - Happy 5th birthday lady!

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  53. Congratulations on your 5 years...what an acheivement!
    I'm so happy to have found your blog, its always a great read and a wonderful feast for the eyes! :-)

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  54. For you. A list.
    1. I am glad you are still here.
    2. I hope you stay.
    3. Anniversaries are important because they often involve dessert or gifts.
    4. That picture is fantastic.
    5. I will keep coming back to read. And to look.
    A loyal fan,
    Greta

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  55. wow, five. that's amazing. your words today were wonderful. keep doing everything you do and will always be what you want!

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  56. here's to many more years and many more cupcakes! i love your blog so much - every word you write, every photo you post inspires me. so thankful for this little spot on the world wide web where i met you my friend. :)

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  57. happy blogiversary, amazing how fast the time goes.

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  58. congrats! always great to read what you have to say and/or look at your great photos.

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  59. A glorious blog-versary! I was here when you first began I think...it was just when I did... or round about..

    I've loved watching your kids grow...reading your lists... devouring your gorgeous photos with my eyes...and enjoying every ounce of the creativity you put forth here...

    Many virtual balloons and kisses to you Andrea!

    ~Christina

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  60. Happy Blogoversary! I've been enjoying reading your musings and checking out your artwork. We hung a couple of your lovely photos in our kids' room and just adore them.

    Any recommendations on something cool we should check out in Portland this weekend? We'll be there with our 5yr old and 2yr old and we want the skinny on the cool stuff :)

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  61. i think so many people read you because you bring hope. you have this lightness about you and this colorful way of presenting life that makes the everyday seem more valuable. we all crave that. we are attracted to light. your blog has been a blessing to read, and i hope it continues to be a blessing to write.

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  62. like so many, i am grateful that you are here, at this web address...because that is how i found you!

    i just went back and looked...and i started 5 years ago, too! (in january). i was teaching, and wanting a baby.
    and now, i have a baby attached to my hip! hee. which is why i haven't even kept track of anything lately. lol

    it has been so lovely getting to know you and to watch your sweet family over the years.
    you rock so much, mama. and as long as there is a you, writing and taking pictures? there will be a me reading and drooling.

    xo cheers to the next five.

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  63. happy blogiversary! have greatly enjoyed reading your ebb and flow over the years. love the vibe and look of what you publish here.

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  64. rock on with the 5 years girl! cheers to the ebb and flow!

    xoxo

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  65. Happy Blog anniversary! What better reason to buy cupcakes? None that I can think of.

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  66. Congratulations on your anniversary! And on the cupcake notion - very good indeed!

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  67. Congratulations!
    Five cupcakes seem like the perfect way to celebrate!

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  68. Happy blogiversary! Those cupcakes seem a bit small for a 5-year-blog celebration. ;)

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  69. Do you remember when you where a kid and turned 5? So much anticipation about life...leaving home and family to experience and learn about the big world in kindergarten.Congrats Andrea on your 5 year milestone. You are so inspiring girl.

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  70. happy anniversary-

    and I don't often comment, but I did want to thank you for your blog. It inspires me every time I read it, you introduce me to new things, new music, etc.

    I loved this post because I've been thinking a lot about my own blog lately. What should it be? What do I even want it to be? Maybe it's enough that it's my own space, where I can post and write anything I want.

    again, thank you.

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  71. just lovely. I love the explanation of the lower case letters.

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  72. happy blogiversary dear Andrea! five years - oh and to think i have followed you all the way - it's been an honour my friend.

    i wish i would've been there for one of those cupcakes...

    you may ebb and flow, but it's always good.

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  73. happy anniversary, my sweet friend!
    XO

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  74. wow - 5 years - well done!

    I'm just finding you now but am seriously enjoying your vision - go lists!

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