Good afternoon, Cyberspace!
This morning I sorta kinda made a very intriguing discovery that I was not in any way, shape, or form prepared for…
— Today is Smudged Thought’s One-Year Anniversary —
Yes, yes, that is correct, dear bean. On this precise day, exactly one year ago, I created the illustrious site that you are viewing at this very moment. With a few simple clicks, a smattering of grumblings about how the editor was so glitchy, a couple unanticipated grey hairs whilst trying to fix all of the teleporting widgets, and the tiniest flick of pixie dust, Smudged Thoughts was brought forth into existence.
“But Kenzie…” you say hesitantly, unsure how to poise your highly judge-a-licious question politely. “How in the world did you not know that today was your blog’s birthday? Isn’t that something that any sane, normal blogger would have known? Even–dare I say it–planned for?”
Why, my smol crumbling, of course you are right (as you always are). But alas, you forget one very important detail.
I am neither sane nor normal.
I would have thought you’d known this most obvious fact by now.
So no. I had absolutely no clue whatsoever that today was my smol blog’s birthday. I just so happened to wake up, log onto WordPress, and BAM! There was the notification in my inbox.
It was a rather rude awakening, to be perfectly honest. Bloggy Birthdays are things that most bloggers take advantage of. Your blog turns one (or thirty?)–you host a giveaway. Or do a questionnaire.
Or at the very least you do something to commemorate this most honorable occasion.
But as for me?
…
Yeah, I’ve got nothing.
But here’s the thing guys, even though I’m unable to do a giveaway or something equally as fancy because A) I’d need your mailing address like a creeper, and B) wut is money, and also C) I had no clue that today was my blogiversary????, there is something that I really want to say.
and I’m sure you can already guess what it is because #totallyobvious, but HOLD ON TO YOUR GO-GO BOOTS, FRANNY, WE’RE ABOUT TO GET SAPPY HERE!
Thank you.
Thank you to each and every one of you. Thank you to those who have read my posts since the very beginning, and to those who are just now joining the cookie-gang.
Thank you to those who take the time to read my posts, to like them, and by golly to even leave a comment. You have absolutely no idea how much your support, your kind words, your views, your follows, your cookie-flinging, your likes, your laughter, your encouragement, and just your all-around YOU-ness means to me.
This blog would be nothing without you guys. Literally nothing. And I am forever and always in your debt. It is because of you that I continue to do this every Tuesday. It is because of you that I whip out my laptop with a smile because I know that I have the power to sprinkle even a tiny amount of laughter into the world through my words.
It is because of you that I am a blogger.
I started Smudged Thoughts with the mindset that it would go nowhere. I thoroughly believed that I would catch on fire and crash and burn and break my chipmunk face on the pavement long before I even reached this point.
But you guys–you beautiful, beautiful beans–proved me wrong.
and I am obviously never wrong so this was quite a shock to my poor system, I can assure you.
In the single year that Smudged Thoughts has been alive existed, we have published a whopping total of 58 smudges, gained 131 followers (including those who have followed through email), had 464 like buttons punched in the face, been visited by 1,385 strangers (potentially alien), and have had 1,057 comments (most of which were probably my own???) posted down in the comment section that looks like a piece of snail mail.
These statistics blow my mind, guys. They literally blow. my. mind.
I never thought I would break a hundred followers in all my time as a blogger, lesser still in one year. And those 1,057 comments? Each and every one of them is cherished close to my heart. When you guys take time out of your days to tell me what you guys are up to, or to tell me what you think about the smudge, or to say that you actually really enjoyed it…?
It lights up my entire world.
So thank you. Thank you to every single one of you. Whether you are new here or have been a Smudgy Veteran since the very first post (yes, yes, I am looking at you, my favorite smol family [*waves*])—I thank thee.
I thank thee–all of thee–from the very bottom of my cookie soul. You, sir, deserve ALL OF THE COOKIES. You have made this past year one of the most amazing and glorious years that I have ever witnessed, and I cannot wait to see what the years ahead of us hold.
Thank you, Cyberspace . . .
— Kenzie
Awww, Happy Birthday, Smudged Thoughts!!!! This was such a sweet post! I loved it!!! <3 <3 This reminds me that I should probably be planning for my blog's one-year anniversary as well, because it's coming up and I don't want to be a procrastinator on that. :) But, the journey as one of those 131 followers of yours has been so fun!! Keep up the blogging!! :)
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Aww, thank you so much!!!!!
MWAHAHAHA! Yes… Prepare for your one-year blogiversary… Learn from my mistake, dear bean. LEARN FROM MY MISTAKE!!!
Awww!!! You have no idea how much that means to me!!! Thank you so much!!!! <3 And I SHALL BLOG FOREVER!!! MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
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Oh my word, Kenzie, you wonderful darling! You are so absolutely welcome. (Also very happy birthday. Mine is tomorrow. Coincidence? I think not.)
😻😁💖
( Sorry for the short comment, but this is my first time commenting with a phone.)
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OH MY WORD, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! It is a belated well-wishing, but SERIOUSLY I HOPE YOUR DAY WAS FANTASTIC!!! My actual birthday was this month, too??? This is strange… I have heard so many bloggers say that their birthdays are in August… You know, I’m starting to see a pattern here… XD
OOH! Phone commenting!!! This intrigues me muchly… Smudged Thoughts has finally made it to the portable realms!
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Happy bloggy birthday, Kenize! You and your awesome blog deserve all the love and ALL the cookies! :)
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AWWWWW!!! Thank you SO much, dear bean!!!!! *eats all of the cookies*
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Woot! That is so fun! Happy Blog Birthday! It’s so cool that your blog has had such a good first year. :D
I’ve already forgotten when I made my blog, and that was only a few months ago, I guess we’re both in the Insane and Abnormal boat. xD #NotAlone
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EEK! Thank you SO much!!! This past year of blogging has been AMAZING! I honestly can’t even believe how much my smol little blog has grown… XD
YESSSS! I am not alone!!!!! *high-fives* #marshmallowbrains (I think WordPress will remind you when you’re blogiversary is, but it’s really unexpected and totally out of the blue… XD)
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Happy birthday!
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Thank you so much, dear bean!!!!! XD
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Happy Blogiful Birthday! Congrats too! I don’t wonder why you have so many followers, seeing the things you write :D It must be hard to write every week, even when you don’t feel like it…I never could make myself do it
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Awwww, thank you so much!!! And oh my word!!!!! You are SO sweet!!!! :D *flings cookies in your face*
Yeah… It’s a little tough writing a blog post for each week, but it does give me good writerly exercise. It prepares me for writing when I don’t want to write in the future! XD
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Love this post! Happy birthday :D
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Awww!!!! Thank you SO much!!!!
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HAPPYYY BLOG BIRTHDAY!!! Hey, I also have no idea when my blog anniversary is. #twins
Congratulations on 100 followers and one year of awesome posts! *gives you all the cookies*
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YESSS!!! I AM NOT ALONE!!!! WHOOOO! #marshmallowtwins
Aww, thank you so much!! :D *eats all of the cookies and then dies of happiness*
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Happy blogiversary!!!
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Thank you so much!!!!
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You’re welcome so much!!!!
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Ahhh, congratulations on your anniversary!! Your blog is one of the most entertaining and creative I’ve ever read. Keep up the great work!
Ellie | On the Other Side of Reality
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Oh my word… This literally just made my day!!! Thank you SO much!!!!! *flings cookies at your face happily*
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Congratulations on a year of blogging, and thank YOU, Kenzie, for writing!
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Awwwwww!!!!! Thank you for reading all of my writerly ramblings, haha! This blog would be nothing without you wonderful beans!!! XD
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Awww, CONGRATS DEAR KENZIE!!! You deserve all your stats and your love for blogging and the community will never cease to astound me. You have WONDERFUL writing, and an amazing blogging voice, and I hope you won’t stop blogging! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SMUDGED THOUGHTS!!! <3
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Oh my word!!!!! Thank you SO much, May!!!! This honestly means the world to me!!!! I really don’t think I’ll ever stop blogging… It’s way too much fun, haha! XD EEK!! Thank you again SO SO much!!!!! This is literally the sweetest thing ever!!!! <3
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HAPPY BLOGOVERSARY!!!!!!!!!
I acutally never checked my blog often enough to know when I had my anniversary but whatev XD
AND DUDE YOU DESERVE ALL THE LOVE
AND ALL THE COOKIES
Your blog is amazing and you’re hilariously awesome <3 <3 keep it up
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EEK! Thank you so much!!!
SAAAAAMMMEE! We can be marshmallow twins who have no idea when our anniversaries are!!! *high-fives*
AWWWWWW!!!!! Oh my word, you have no idea how much this means to me!!!!! <3 <3 <3 Thank you so much, dear bean!!!!!
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YOU ARE VERY WELCOME
YES MARSHMALLOW TWINS!!!!! <3
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#marshmallowtwins4ever
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SORRY I TOOK A MILLION YEARS TO COMMENT ON THIS, DEAR!!!
AND SORRY I HAVEN’T COMMENTED ON ANYTHING IN A MILLION AND FOUR YEARS!!!!!! IT’S AWFUL OF ME, AND I APOLOGIZE WITH ALL MY HEART AND NOW I WILL MOVE ON.
Can I just say… YOUR BLOG IS SO AMAZING I WAS SHOCKED TO LEARN YOU’VE ONLY BEEN BLOGGING FOR A YEAR!
You really do it with such ease and frankness and class that I thought you were an old pro. Well it turns out you are just Fabulous (which we all already know), and I AM IN AWE.
CONGRATULATIONS, DEARIE!!!!!!! YOUR BLOG IS THE BEST AND ALWAYS MAKES ME SMILE!!!!!
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Oh my word, you are perfectly fine!!!!! I am SO behind on reading blogs!!! XD *distant sobbing and ripping of hair*
Oh my word!!!! Thank you SO much, you dear bean!!! You have no idea how much that means to me!! Oh dear, I am by no means an old pro! I’m just a baby blogger, MWAHAHAHAHA! Awwww!!! You are fabulous, as well, dear bean! *flings cookies at your face happily*
OH MY WORD!!!! Thank you!!!!! <3 :D
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IT’S HARD. IT IS. BUT WE LOVE YOU ANYWAY, SO DON’T FRET DEAR ONE ABOUT IT.
Aww!! Thanks! You really are though!
*throws confetti*
*eats the cookies*
<3 <3
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Not fretting about it makes me fall even more behind, hahahahahaha! XD
*eats confetti*
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HAPPY BIRTHDAYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!
YOU ARE THE AWESOME.
NEVER STOP BLOGGING.
PS – YOU ARE FAMOUS!!!
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Awwwww!!! Thank you so much, Kate!!!! *squishes you in a hug*
NO, YOU ARE THE AWESOME. OBVIOUSLY.
I SHALL NEVER STOP BLOGGING EVER!
Oh goodness, I hope not!!!! *hides under rock because no.*
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*suffers hug*
Don’t. You are brilliant at it.
No, really — YOU ARE!!!
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Thank you for suffering through the hug. You are a very nice bean. *pats head*
Aww!!!! Thank you so much!!!
WHY DO YOU SAY THAT??? NO. I DON’T WANT FAME. MAKE IT LEAVE.
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