Saturday, April 20, 2013

One Year Blogiversary and 600 followers GIVEAWAY!

Hello!!

Guess what?

Today is the one-year anniversary of my very first blog post. I can't believe it's already been a year!

Okay...if I go back and look at that first post, I can believe it. >.>

I started this blog shortly after discovering nail stamping via Konad. My first few manicures I shared with friends on my Facebook page and then on my Weebly website, but I started doing it with such regularity that I decided it would be best to start a blog for it, so I'd stop flooding the people I knew who didn't care about nail art, lol. Here is the very first picture I ever posted to the blog, of the second Konad manicure I ever did:




Ugh...I shudder a bit when I see it. One of the things I've learned over the past year is that it's much more effective to have pictures that actually show your manicure clearly, lol. This is dark, has an ugly claw pose, and most of the design is hardly visible. The center of the picture is the bottle of polish, not the manicure. I also posted my pictures in a small format back then, which didn't help anything. The sad part is, I took a bunch of pictures and determined this one was the best. ::shudders::

I've learned a lot since then due to practice, looking at other blogs, and the advice of a wonderful community of bloggers. I still have a ton to learn, but I think I'm better than I was.  I'm proud of the progress I've made and I'm also proud that I have posted every single day for a year. Thank goodness for post scheduling! :)

I am so incredibly grateful for everyone who follows me--I still can't believe that people actually want to look at what I post, or read what I write about. I can't tell you how much it means to me that you take time out of your day to see what I've put up, and I can't thank you enough.

But at least I can thank you a little bit, with a giveaway! To celebrate the anniversary of my first post, and reaching 600 followers (I think this might be closer to 500 really, due to overlap on the reader platforms) I'm going to give away a $20 gift certificate to Ninja Polish, home of the newly-returned NerdLacquer, among other awesome brands!

Ninja Polish ships internationally, so this giveaway is open to anyone who can use the gift certificate. I believe there are some countries they are not able to ship to, so please check their site to make sure your country is included. :)



The contest begins now, and runs through the end of the month (it ends at midnight on 30 April 2013). At that time I will verify the entries and have Rafflecopter pick a winner. So please make sure your entries (links, follower names, etc.) are correct and up-to-date, so you'll be sure to be included:


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Good luck to everyone, and thank you so much for following my blog! I never thought I'd come near to making it a year, or even having 10 followers, let alone 600. You guys rock!!!

Big hugs,
M.

165 comments:

  1. I would love to see some tutorials! :-) Thank you for this giveaway! Ninja polish is AWESOME!

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    1. Argh, tutorials!! My Achilles heel. Okay, I will work on getting better at this. :)

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  2. Congrats on your Blogiversary & 600 followers - woop woop! I'd like to see more comparisons and indie swatches x

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  3. I have always enjoyed looking at your blog. I admit your pictures look a lot better but this one is not bad at all. YOu should see my first ones. I was taking them with my web cam...Just was a MESS!! WE learn... I would just suggest to keep up the great work and keep doing it because you love it and that shows in your work. Congrats and thanks for the opportunity to win:)

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    1. ROFL! My first video I did with my web cam. OH MAN was it horrible! Thank you for the support and encouragement. :)

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  4. I would love to see nail art posts including indies...

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    1. Excellent! I've been trying to do more nail art with indies as the base, so hopefully I'll get more of this up for you. :)

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  5. I would like to see tutorials.

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  6. Congrats on your Blogiversary and 600 followers! I would love to see comparisons posts. Tahnk so much for this great giveaway! xx

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  7. I think your first post picture was pretty good! at least I liked the color and the mani!
    Congrats on your anniversary! ;)

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  8. nail art posts. I hope is International giveaway!

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    1. Anyone is eligible, but you should check to be sure that Ninja Polish is able to ship to your country. :) Of course, if it doesn't, you could always arrange a swap with someone in another country or something...

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  9. Tutorials would be great! I get a lot of inspiration from the manis I see in blogs.

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  10. Tutorials would be great! I get a lot of inspiration from the blogs I follow.

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  11. Congrats!! I too love comparisons :)

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  12. Congratulations on the blogiversary, and to many more!! :)
    I like all kinds of nail art posts - they're very inspiring! :)

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  13. You have a pretty awesome stash, so I would like to see swatch pictures of your stash and then link it to each color listed in your stash! Thanks for the giveaway. :)

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    1. Oh wow, that's a great idea...I'll take a look to see if it's something I can set up. How awesome would that be!

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  14. Congratulations! Keep up the good work--variety is always good to see/read, and you're already doing that. Here's to a second successful year!

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  15. Congrats~~~ Thanks for this giveaway too! I would love to see more nail art <3

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  16. I would like to see reviews/comparisons!

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  17. I would like to see more reviews/comparisons!

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  18. Congratulations! I would like to see more polish reviews and tutorials during the coming year. Keep up the good work!!

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  19. I love nail art both stamped and handpainted, Nail art is what got me addicted to nail polish. I also love swatches of drugstore/beauty store polishes new and old. Happy Blogiversary!

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  20. I only started following a couple weeks ago, but I'd love to see some nail art tutorials :D

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  21. I would like to see some comparison or dupe posts. I really love looking at those.

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  22. Congrats!! I always love comparison & indie posts.

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  23. Congrats on your blogiversary! That is pretty awesome that you posted every single day. You are dedicated! And I think your first picture is great. I look back and mine and I was scared to show more than just my thumb! LOL. And OMG my cuticles... eeek. Is that green Rimmel Rags to Riches? I just bought that one last month. I love it! And to answer your question about what would I like to see? Just more great manis from you:) Take care.

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    1. Thank you!! :) Yes, it is Rags To Riches. It's a lovely color but Rimmel is not cruelty-free (unless that's changed and if so I'd love to know that), so I don't use that one anymore. :(

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  24. I enjoy comparisons and dupes, and also holos.

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  25. I like to see comparison posts and new collections, especially holos.

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  26. I would love to see some tutorials!! Congrats and thanks for the giveaway :)

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  27. Your early photo doesn't look bad at all, your newer photos just look better. I don't think your early photos are anything to be embarrassed over. And sometimes a claw pose is the practical way to show everything.

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    1. Thanks very much! :) And yes you're right, there are people out there that use the claw pose very well, and I don't mean to insult them at all. I just didn't use it well here, lol--my nails are all pointed inward and I just didn't put it into good effect. :(

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  28. As I`m a nail art fan that would be my answer. :)

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  29. Congratulations! I'd love to see tutorials! :)

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  30. I would like to see lots of beautiful cruelty- free nail polishes that I haven't heard of yet :-)Congratulations! I'm very impressed that you have managed to blog every day!

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    1. Sounds good...I'm always on the lookout, especially since it seems like a couple of big brands are going over to the dark side. :(

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  31. tutorials and reviews! Congrats on 1 year!

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  32. I can only wish to someday have a successful blog as yours is. Congrats. :)

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  33. I'd like to see nail art and tutorials! Also, I accidentally left the wrong name for GFC follow and I'm not sure how to fix that.

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  34. I would love to see lots of nail art in the upcoming year!

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  35. I would love to see some tutorials! <3 Congrats on your one year aniversary!

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    1. Thank you! And I'll try my best, I sort of suck at tutorials...but hopefully I'll get better! :)

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  36. I love swatches of new collections, nail art how-to's and of course giveaways!! :D
    -Olivia F.

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  37. I personally love reading tutorials and some kinds of nail art to give me more ideas! =)

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  38. I love your blog, but I always love more dupe comparisons, swatches and reviews... :)

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  39. hello!! congratulations i believe you'll make it to 600000 followers because you're awesome like that :) and thanks for the giveaway :)

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    1. ROFL!! You are the awesomest! And, you're welcome. :) <3

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  40. I love nail art tutorials as well as comparison swatches! Thank you!

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  41. comparisons, high vs drugstore

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    1. I might be able to manage medium vs drugstore...the high end stuff like Chanel is a bit out of my price range...::wipes tear from eye::

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  42. I would love nail art ,swatches

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  43. How to's are always nice! Not just nail art... nail care as well.
    And swatches, swatches, swatches!!! I don't buy polish without looking at a few swatches first^^

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  44. Congratulations! i love your blog how it is, so in the coming year I'd love to see more of what you're already doing, nail art specially!

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  45. I love nail art tutorials!!! But as far as your blog goes just keep doing what your doing!!!

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  46. Tutorials are fun, I'm partial to indie swatches & comparisons too :)

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  47. Congrats to you!! Nail Art Tutorials.. so many of us suck at it!

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    1. Thank you! And tutorials...well...I guess the only way for me to get better at it is to do it more and get some feedback! :)

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  48. I'm a new follower to your blog and looking through it, I've been missing out! I'm not sure what more you can add to it, but if it includes nail art, reviews, dupes / comparisons & tutorials, I'll be happy! Also, I noticed that there are a lot of comments here, and I love how you have responded to all of them. It's so nice to see that!

    - Cassandra Wells

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    1. You are so sweet, thank you very much! As for the comments, I love getting comments and I feel like if someone takes the time to leave one, I should take the time to reply. :)

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    2. Thank You so much!!!!! Anything you are willing to share, I'm willing to look. Im sure it will be good!!

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    3. You're so kind! Thanks so much. :)

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  49. I would love to see swatches. Keeps me informed and helps me decide what to add to my list of polishes to buy. Tutorials would also be great

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  50. Tutorials or Pictorials since I actually think it is easier to follow pictures than a moving video if you're not totally ready in the moment. And I just love freehanded art, so any of that. :)

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    1. Oh man, believe me, you don't want to see me try to do a video tutorial, lol! I made one once...I'm pretty certain it was the worst video tutorial ever...I still have nightmares about it...

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  51. Congrats! Love to see tutorials also I really like seeing swatches of core line polishes that people seem to forget about with new polish always being thrown at us all the time :P

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    1. Thank you! Sounds good, I have some core Zoyas coming your way soon, thanks to their earth day sale. :)

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  52. Tutorials... I need all the help I can get lol

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  53. Comparing and nail art sounds lovely. :)

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  54. I agree with Sonya over there on tutorials, I too, need all the help I could get hehe.

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  55. I agree with Sonya, I too need all the help I can get with tutorials.

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  56. I would love to see nail art posts.

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  57. I would like to see more tutorials. Thank you for the giveaway!

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  58. I would love to see some tutorials!

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  59. Just keep doing all the same wonderful stuff stuff you do so well! <3

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  60. Always love to see nail art! :) Thank you for a great giveaway! :)

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  61. more nail art tutorials, oh and congrats!

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  62. Congratulations! I want to see more of the same. You're doing great!

    Lisa

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  63. I'd love more stamping next year

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  64. I love jellies and flakies! so I always love to see those! thank you for the giveaway!

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  65. Oh wow you are around for a year already?
    I just discovered your blog recently after clicking here and there. xD As the others say I hope to see some tutorials as well (no pressure though! hihi)

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    1. I am! It just flew on by...::whizzzzz::...like that. I'm glad you found me, and I will definitely try with the tutorials. :)

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  66. I would love to see some step by step tutorials please :)

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  67. I love stamping, anything about nail care and new collections. So love your blog <3

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    1. Thank you so much, you are so awesome to say that. :) <3 back to you!

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  68. Congratulations on one year and 600 followers! I love to see cruelty free products and swatches !Thank you for the chance to win!

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  69. Congrats!! I love your swatches and would love to see even more of them in the coming year hehe! Thank you for the giveaway xx

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  70. Double congrats! Swatches and tutorials are cool, but I'm just a nail art junkie :) It's all about gathering creativity and being creative for me, so I'm always up for more art!

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    1. Agree 100%. I could spend hours just scrolling through pretty manicures...:) And thanks!

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  71. Congrats! Swatches, comparisons, nail art for dummies lol

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    1. Nail art for dummies--that I might be able to handle, right on my level! :)

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  72. Congrats Michelle! And thank you for the giveaway :) I personally love comparison posts. Not necessarily dupes, but similar colors swatched together. It gives me a better idea of what the polishes really look like. It also makes my wish list longer and makes me buy more polish, so maybe I don't want to see more of that, lol! Congrats again "polish buddy" :D

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    1. Ack, that reminds me I still haven't put my information up! I'm a huge loser. I will do that by this weekend, I promise!!!!! Thanks for the grats, and for the good idea. I never really swatch *similar* colors, but I should. Or maybe I shouldn't, hee hee hee...:)

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  73. I'm with Erica - I LOVE comparison posts!

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  74. I would like to see reviews and dupes

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  75. Michelle, you are a trooper. I hadn't realized that you posted everyday for a whole year! I would go crazy if I did that. The most I do is like 3 a week. lol. I would love to see anything but maybe tutorials wouldn't be a bad idea. A tab specifically to tutorials would be awesome! :)

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    1. Ah, Zachy, if only you knew how this blog has kept me sane this past year! Actually, on second thought, I think you have heard me complain a bit, lol. :) <3

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  76. i love tutorials. I want to do more myself and lots of colors.

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  77. Congrats on your blogiversary. I would really like some tutorials please :)

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