3 years of blogging!

I can't believe that I've hit this milestone of blogging. While three years feels like forever, at the same time, I can't believe it's been so long! I have written 330 posts (not including the ones that went up this week) and have had over 35,000 views.

When I started blogging, I made so many blogging friends, and while not all of them continued blogging, I do stay in touch with most of them. Then there are the blogging friends I've made along the way. The people I talk to a few times a week, where I read all their posts, and have such a special spot in my heart for them.

I have to say a special thanks to any single person who has read one of my posts, especially if you left a comment. They all mean so much to me, and really kept me going.

In past years, I have done a few different things, but today I want to look at some of my old posts!

My first official blog post was "Officially Going to California". It wasn't really a full fledged blog post, it was more like a quick diary entry? I was so used to writing lil' snippets of my life on Tumblr, I didn't really understand how to blog.

I wrote a few posts like that one, quick short posts, that took little to no effort to read or write. It was kind of weird seeing how my writing style has changed, and what was going on in my life around that time.

I actually was super brave, cause the month after I started my blog, I did Blogmas! It's funny, because not only is Blogmas difficult because you have to write a post everyday for the month of December, but since then, I have not ever attempted Blogmas since! Here are some of my faves from that Blogmas: Favorite Christmas Movies!, Christmas makeup look 2016, Helping Grandma Put up Her Tree!, My Favorite Christmas Memory, & Looking Back on 2016.

While these posts aren't the best written or my favorites out of all the posts I've written, I would definitely say that these posts are special to me. They were the start of my blogging journey.

Out of all the posts I've ever written, here are your favorites:

Juvia's Place Makeup Brushes - Best Brushes Ever! (1,147 Total Views)

Why is Slut Shaming Still a Thing? (481 Total Views)

Things to do in NYC (392 Total Views)

There Should Be Balance (387 Total Views)

It's Never too Late to Chase Your Dreams (Another Cliche Post) (359 Total Views)

I'm actually a little surprised to see what posts have done the best over the years! It kind of gives me a clearer idea of what you want from me, but at the same time since all of these posts are from different categories, it also leaves me a little bit confused.

Out of all the posts I've ever written, here are my favorites:

The Pressure to be Perfect

Looking Past your Imperfections

I need to get something off my chest

Heartbreak

I'm Picky about who I follow on Social Media

I used to think I was Ugly

I thought I was unworthy of being Loved

I am my own worst critic.

I was only going to choose 5 posts, but after going back and reading so many of them, I realized that there was no way that I was only going to be able to choose 5. Looking back at these posts made me realize the kinds of posts I love sharing the most, and they're personal thought pieces. Pieces that come from personal experience.

Another thing I realized while reading these posts, was that I haven't written one in a while. While I enjoy writing them, they can be quite draining to write. After I write a post like the ones above, I don't have energy to do much else. Then when the post is finally posted, I feel a sense of release, I feel so much better.

I think I'm going to get back into sharing deeper posts.

Well, this post is getting much longer than I intended it to be. Thank you all again for sticking around. I appreciate it so much. As always, sending you love, strength, and positivity.

-Melina xx