fashionCHICsta

Yesterday my blog turned one!!  When I first started my blog, I went to the sites of popular bloggers and copied their concepts. Looking at those styles and layouts, I thought that's what success must look like. In the end I had a bunch of ads and basically a bunch of nonsense that had nothing to do with the reason I started blogging in the first place.  So I pared down, I experimented and I will continue to redesign as my craft of blogging evolves.   I had a lot of fun looking back over the past year and seeing which posts were my most popular and how my style of writing & posting as well as blog layout has changed. I want to share with you what I learned about my blog & blogging in general over the past 12 months.   Think of it as a dvice from your big sister.

My blog is going to 1 year anniversary tomorrow! I was reading BeautyByKrystal 's blog today and she inspired me to list my own top posts.  I have to admit, I was a bit surprised at the results. Here are the statistics and the links to the top 9.  I hope you enjoy reading them as much as everyone else!!  Here is to an amazing 2012 and another year of gorgeous blogging! xoxo   Click picture to enlarge

  As you may or may not know, I am a Yoga Teacher.  A few months ago I posted a video on my Youtube channel participating in a contest for one of these Manduka Yoga Mats. Well, I wasn't chosen then but I was given a second opportunity, this time I was actually invited to try the mat and I agreed.

I had a hard time writing this story because my bad experience caught me so off-guard, I didn't know how to report it.  So I am just going to tell you my exact experience as the event happened.  The good, the bad and the ugly beautiful. I made my very first purchase of Urban Decay in late August of the 15 year Anniversary Palette.  I love it, so much fun!  During my purchase I spot a post card for a "Master Class" and ask the MUA to elaborate... She tells me it is the first of that kind of class, I am going to learn the latest looks and see the new products with the ability to pre-purchase hot merchandise before it sells out.

Pantone Colour of the Year: Tangerine Tango. A spirited reddish orange, continues to provide the energy boost we need to recharge and move forward.

I was painting my home office and as I was tweeting my progress, someone commented that they don't paint because of how much spatter ended up on the carpet - even though they had covered the floor. I want to share with you my drop cloth taping method, it keeps my baseboard and flooring paint free. Not to mention you will use 50% less tape!  Click the pictures to enlarge for detail. I call this the next picture the SOS method.  The old dot and dash, where you tape the baseboard 100% and then try to tape your drop cloth to the taped base board!  Doesn't work does it.  You always tend to drop your drips right in between the tape, right?  Me too.

Before I became a beauty blogger, for 17 years I was a retail Store Manager.  I want to share my knowledge and what I consider the insider secrets of how a retail shop operates during 'Holiday' more commonly known as Q4 or 4th Quarter;  November, December and January. For starters, why do you think it's called Black Friday? It's the day that Retail hopes to get out of the red and get into the black.   It's also a day that seems to trigger an instant thought of fighting.  Fighting for parking.  Fighting for personal space.  Fighting for the last one.  Fighting your way in line and finally fighting fatigue.  The truth: You're only fighting yourself.   The following might explain why you feel frustration when you're shopping this season.