This is an old photo of Bruno, but it illustrates a point—if I want to post about dogs and haircuts, I will!
Okay, so, seriously? You all are amazing. I’ve been passed out on the sofa with a fever and stomach flu for the past 12 hours (you know I’m really sick if I don’t feel like going online!), and now I’m sitting here with tears rolling down my face while I read all of your comments.
Look, let’s just get this out of the way right now: I AM A GIANT CRYBABY. I always have been. I cry over everything. (Earlier today I actually got choked up when I realized Saltines are no longer packaged with those little red bendy closure tabs at the top of the stack. It was devastating to open the box and not see them—why have you done this to us, Nabisco??) I have a very thin skin, it’s true, and I’m not sure I want to change that. It’s what allows me to feel honest compassion for other people. I don’t like myself very much when I “toughen up”.
Maxwell at Apartment Therapy explained to me that it is not possible to remove Door Sixteen from the contest at this point. I understand. However, he did disable the comments and post a very nice explanation of why. I’m okay with this. Next time they run this contest, though, I think it would be wise to have the nominations done in the form of private submission rather than in open comments, and to do the same with the voting.
I want to make it clear that my upset yesterday really was not about a few negative things that were said about this site, but rather about the overall tone of the comments and the assumptions that were being made about every blogger who made the final list. I think the thing that put me over the edge was a comment that Nicole from Making it Lovely (one of my favorite blogs; consistently well-written, beautifully presented, and definitely personal) writes too much about her pregnancy. Combined with the insinuation that the entire contest is nothing more than a publicity grab for all involved, I really started feeling very badly about the whole thing. I don’t think I was wrong to respond to some of the “allegations” that were being thrown around. I am not the kind of person to just let things happen and wait for the bad stuff to pass.
I’ve been blogging since 2002, and I’ve never done it with a veil of anonymity. I attach my real, full name to everything I do online, and I assure you that Internet Anna is the very same person as Real Life Anna. My life is far from being an open book, but I don’t believe in creating alternate personalities or putting on a show for the sake of an audience. It’s just not for me. When people ask me what the “secret” is to having a successful blog, that’s the only advice I can offer—write what you know, and make every post a reflection of who you are and what you’re into, not what you think people want to see. Regardless of what you’re blogging about, keeping your personality and style connected to your blog will attract people to it—that’s how we attract people in real life, too!
I’m going to go back to snuggling with my dogs now. We’re watching Poltergeist on television (Evan went to his parents’ house for a belated Hanukkah gathering, my stomach flu kept me away), and I think I’m ready to eat something small (no, not Fritz!).
Thank you again for everything. I’ll get back to posting about more important things (like dining room chairs and orbital sanders) tomorrow.
76 Comments
Hope you feel better soon! I too am nursing a cold on the couch right now.
Also want to add to the many comments from your last post, sending blog-love your way.
I am totally blog obsessed and read many every day and honestly, yours almost instantly became my favourite as soon as I found it!
I love love love your home to bits and think your blog is inspirational, beautiful and friendly!
Also – I have you to thank for recommending my now favourite shampoo! Love the Glisten. 🙂
Don’t let online drama start your 2009 on a bad note!
Hope you are feeling better soon. I am feeling blah this week-end but I think it if from messing up my schedule with my late night into early morning new years celebration. I am very much a schedule person.
Again, I am so sorry with the drama over at AT. No one deserves that. This is your blog and you should run it as you see fit. Which just happens to be the best ever.
I love your blog. I love your house. I run out and buy eye cream after you post about it. The haters over at AT are just jealous.
I’m glad they at least made an effort on your request by disabling comments. It was such a shame that people felt the need to be so rude.
i LOVE the you-ness of your blog, anna! it is so easy to tell that it is genuine and honest, and i so appreciate the way that you share your life like that. your blog (and your blog with adam) became instant favourites and for me they are really inspiring. i love the camaraderie i feel reading them because the way you write encourages people to make things reflections of their own style. thank you! happy 2009 xo
from one thin-skinned (and proud of it) person to another… this is so beautifully written. i love reading your blog because it’s so accessible, personal and well, real… and the renovation/design posts are inspiring and helpful. keep up the lovely work!
I didn’t read the comments at Apartment Therapy, but I have noticed that in general there are tons of snarky people over there. In fact, I think the first time I read the word snarky, it was about commenters over there commenting about each other. Just remember that only people with low self esteem feel the need to dig into others, and pity those poor friendless fools.
you hit the nail on the head. your “blog you” seems to me what the “real you” would be like. that mixed with your writing style, impeccable taste, home reno/decor tales AND your cute doggies is why i return day after day 🙂 door sixteen is an honest, well written blog that happens to post what i’m into and inspires me in my decorating.
oh, i come back for your makeup posts too.
get well!
Thank YOU for having integrity and manners! Feel better soon!
I’m so sorry that the AT contest turned out to be such a mess….Anna, just keep being yourself and you will always come out on top! I think one of the reasons your site is so special is that you do share your real self and it resonates with people.
Hope that you feel better soon…..doggie snuggles should definitely help!
Hope you feel better soon! I know Fritz and Bruno will help! xoxo
Hi Anna, I finally read the offending comments at AT. They are so typical of the small minds that seem to live only to take swipes at other people’s efforts. I’m sure we all saw enough of them leading up to the election – on both sides! Just for the record: I don’t have a pet, don’t care for Mid-Century modern, and am too old to get pregnant, and rarely wear make-up. Yet, I read your blog (and Nicole’s at MIL) every day, for the sheer pleasure of catching up with people I really admire. Keep up the good work. Glad you’re feeling better!
I have to say it – those people that are spoiling your fun are ASSHOLES! What kind of joy do they derive in spreading their negativity??
As you already know, there are many more admirers of your blog that appreciate the work you put into entertaining us.
Happy New Year!!
we have been rooting for you all day here in darling towers. feel better love!.
Anna
get well soon.
WE LOVE FRITZ AND BRUNO, so I’m glad you’re going to keep posting about them. What makes a house a home if not one’s beloved puppers and kitties (if one has them – no offence if you don’t)?
You wrote: “I’m not sure I want to change that. It’s what allows me to feel honest compassion for other people. I don’t like myself very much when I “toughen up”.”
Bravo, sister. Who wants to be like the herd?
Being able to cry is very healthy, for those of us for whom it’s a release valve, and a normal part of life.
Keep on keeping on
Jenny, Aus
hi,
we just got back, so a little late, but i just wanted to say that you blog is great, makes me feel like everything is possible…
thank you!
PS
it reminds of of your teardrops love
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=4100&f=26706
(we just got this carpet from C+B outlet, 5×8 for really CHEAP, really!)
its in our leaving room, and its actually a REALLY nice soft rug!
cheers!
Everything got so out of hand… I’ve just been staying away and biting my tongue. There was something nasty to be said about every one of the blogs nominated, and I just kept thinking – behind these blogs are real people. I know their names. I know how much love and work we all put into our blogs. We email each other, we comment, we talk. We’re all supportive of one another. We were all genuinely happy for everyone else that was nominated. Why did some of the AT commenters have to be so mean-spirited?
Oh, and yeah. I wrote about my pregnancy today (gasp!). It’s KINDA a big part of my life.
Anyway, you know I love you and your blog. I’m sorry there’s been so much drama with what should have been a fun little thing.
first off, so glad to see you’re a crybaby like me – it’s so cleansing to have a good cry now and again (even over crackers). now if only you had a pic of bruno, after a haircut, wearing some makeup he recommends – that would really prove your point to those AT comment meanies … 🙂
btw, i voted for you, and am still rootin’ for you. i check your blog every day, and if there’s nothing new for more than a few days, i start to have withdrawal symptoms. i don’t blog, i don’t read any other blogs, but ever since i found yours (by pure luck, when researching Eames rocker base sources for my shell), i’ve been stuck. thanks for sharing your home, your cutie-pie dogs, your beautiful furniture and your fab personality with us every week …
I think that is the best justification for thin skin I have ever heard! I, of very thin onion skin, will be sure to use that one the next time someone rolls their eyes when I get my feelings hurt.
I hope you are feeling better soon–the stomach flu is never good. Which makes me wonder, should you be watching Poltergeist? I would think certain scenes would, er, “inspire” your stomach.
I just linked to your blog for the first time from AT, and I immediately bookmarked it without reading a single post. Why? Your ADORABLE dog. (After that, I read through a bunch of previous posts, and I love your style and your writing and your taste, so good decision me!) Keep writing about whatever you want, and I’ll read it – especially if you have more dog-haircut pictures!
It is so interesting to hear what you have to say about AT…some of the comments are out of control. AT is a BLOG…and the fact that readers feel compelled to trash talk other blogs that are highlighed (often highlighted/nominated by peers) — BAFFLES me. I feel like – if you don’t like my blog DON’T READ IT. Really. It’s a BLOG. Ugh.
I don’t want to fill your comment wall with my personal feelings, but know that *I* (for whatever it’s worth…I don’t trash talk, so maybe I don’t count) think your blog rocks. In fact, I read all of the blogs nominated. But with all dus respect I’m not voting at AT. For the same reasons I think you’d approve of. 🙂
Rock on, D16.
And feel better.
🙂 Laura
Get well, Anna.
I stopped looking at AT on a daily basis many months ago because of the unmoderated and strangely nasty comments … I think it’s pushing a lot of people away from the site.
I hope something is done about it.
I wholly agree with AHJ and others about the comments left on AT. they can be nasty.
secretly though, i’m glad you are still in the running (okay, not secretly). And I am glad someone had the good sense to disable comments.
Hi Anna,
just wanted to say that despite all the unpleasantness you’ve earned yourself a new loyal reader. I just discovered your blog yesterday and have already gone through your archives back to the very first. I love your treasured finds and the fact that you show how stylish one’s home can be without busting the budget.
Like you I love Nicole from Making it Lovely, she seems like such a happy person and along with so many readers I’m excited for her.
Both of you “Carry On” as Tim would say; all those who don’t appreciate your work should perhaps just stay away.
I would hope that the comments of your regular readers would outweigh the comments of the AT readers who haven’t been with you as long. Accept the love of your regular readers and the unconditional love of the animal kingdom and forget them. Hope your feeling better soon.
Anna, how did the Christmas handmade pledge work out for you??
Well hope you feel better. I am a big cry baby to, but I make the workld think I am hard as a rock…shhhhhh (smile) I agree what you said. Blog about what you know. Basically be organic! I think that will be MY MOTTO for 2009…BEING ORGANIC! That will be my next blog title… Keep up the good work, and stay “ORGANIC” ;>)
Hello, my name is Kellie from Melbourne, Australia. I have just stumbled across your blog for the first time and am enjoying it very much. I am wondering if you can please tell me the breed of dog Bruno is. I am looking for a breed to suit my 2 young daughters and he is sooooo gorgeous.
Happy new year!
Kellie
The best thing about dogs: they’re totally non-judgmental. Whatever happens with the Homies don’t stop posting, we love your house and your style.
I just found your blog after a sleepless night, stressing about my own writing issues. There is a great post on “finding your voice” on okayfinedammit.com. Finding an authentic point of view isn’t always easy. You are doing a great job, and anyone who tells you otherwise doesn’t know what hard work writing can be!
I love your blog. I just discovered it a few weeks ago! Think of all that I have missed! Get well soon!
I like your blog just the way it is so never mind the comments and all that! I’m glad they didn’t withdraw you from the contest – will go and vote for you now! 🙂
Get well soon!
I don’t understand some peoples point of whining about what you or someone else chooses to write in their personal blogs. They have always the freedom of chosing not to read your blog if it’s not something they wish to read on their freetime.
Let them find blogs that they find intresting and hope they spend their time reading those and not waiste your time by making you feel bad about posting things about your life.
Hope you get better soon! Stomach flu in not fun at all.. I spent my Christmas and New Years suffering from that and I hope I never get it again in my life 🙂
Hello Anna,
my name is Annamaria e I’ve just found out your veryvery nice blog from Italy (rome)where I live.
I like you ’cause you’re personal, I like your family pictures, the way you’re and things you do
so long
I just wanted to say that I love your blog. It has inspired me to start/complete many much-delayed projects.
“(no, not Fritz!)” made me laugh out loud.
I’m not only a crybaby, but also a wimp, and I’ve learned from observation that it’s always better to ignore, rather than engage, nasty people on the internet. No one’s mind is ever changed, however well-reasoned your argument.
Your blog is great, as is your home. Keep your spirits up!
I am amazed by people who seem to thrive on negativity and controversy.
Keep up the good work… and the trash talkers are just jealous. You were nominated for a reason. They can suck it.
Count me in the new-to-doorsixteen.com camp, thanks to the link at AT! I too was instantly drawn to the style here (both writing and design). I find that my tastes are much more drawn to blogs like this one where I feel I can jive with the personality and love behind the writing.
I would imagine that the increasing negativity at AT is related to its continued expansion and how that seems somewhat ‘corporate.’ They’ve added quite a few start-up sites and dozens of new writers in the last couple of years and I think it’s become less personal.
Plus, you can always count on the squeaky wheels to be the loudest, especially on the intartubez. Rest assured, Anna, that there are thousands of other readers at AT that don’t comment, aren’t negative, and are thrilled to find other sites like yours!
Feel better! 🙂
Keep your chin up, kid.
Hi Anna,
I just want to say that I have no idea what is going on over at Apartment Therapy (sounds distressing!), and I am not going to look. Here’s what I know: I *love* your blog and I don’t care what other people have to criticize about it.
I can’t even remember how I found it; it might have been randomly on Flickr where I saw your book cover designs. I am/was (?) a graphic designer and somehow I found your blog and I’ve been fascinated by it. One day soon I’ll figure out if I am still meant to be a designer or find a new calling, and one day I hope I’ll have a house to call my own. When that happens, you can bet I will refer to this blog to see how you got it all done.
I admire you greatly. You have talent as a designer, you are dedicated to your home, and have made it so beautiful and admirable to see. Your dogs and husband are adorable. Thank you for blogging and sharing your home’s transformation. You can see the love and joy you have for life, and for living.
Keep it up!!
This whole thing really sucks, but is unfortunately indicative of the tone over on AT all too often now. I used to love reading the comments for suggestions, experiences, etc… but now they’re 90% nasty. It’s sad.
And it’s especially sad because all of the blogs nominated are great, and it seems like the peeps behind them are super cool as well. That’s really what makes blogs interesting anyway!
I hope your stomach flu goes away quickly, and that you have plenty of ginger ale!
I found your blog throught the contest, so that is a good thing LOL
I don’t think you should withdraw. The last time I checked you were doing pretty well!
The strange thing is that people don’t understand that you can’t discuss taste.
Get well soon!
Bye,
Marianne.
To be honest I think it’s insulting that he/they/whoever said that “it’s not possible” to remove you from the contest. Uhm why? Is there a three headed giant guarding the magical list of contestants (I’m going a little on the dramatic side but please get my point.) Don’t use “not possible” when “doesn’t want to because they will lose hits from your site” is the far more correct explanation.
I think I’ve zeroed in on this because I’ve encountered this in the past and it’s a bit of sore spot.
Hi Anna,
Never commented, but I’ve been reading your blog for some months now. We don’t share quite the same design aesthetic, but I keep checking in because I had the same haircut in 1992 and I like your passion for improvements (various meanings). We’re psychic friends, or something like that.
But I have not been clicking Apartment Therapy for many months. I used to read it daily and deliberately, top to bottom; an intense commitment that I offered roughly 120 minutes a day. Eventually, I had to quit AT cold turkey, and I have never returned. I know you did not intend this to turn into a grudge match with AT, and with all due respect to Maxwell and his peers, but there is outrageously bad mojo all over that website. Something is not right. Maybe they have haunted internet real estate. The negativity is brutish. I’d like to see the whole thing dismantled, mea culpa, ceremonial bonfires of Eames lounges on 5 points of the globe, a new day rising for 10s of 1000s of nervous, acerbic, bitter strangers, suddenly free to complain on a scale so tiny in comparison that the healing forces of the universe need only concern themselves with repairing the older, deeper wounds of religious wars and reality tv. I am not kidding. I think they should shut down. Know when to hold em, know when to fold em. Launch bigger and better, or smaller and better, but better, and kinder. This kind of merciless internet stuff is a real, palpable problem in the 21st c, and the management of these big ol sites should figure out a way to permanently mitigate the massive vortex of bad vibes spinning around their labors of love, or they should, for the sake of all things good and right, shut. her. down.
Sweat it out. Write more tomorrow. Write more the day after that. It doesn’t make you better, but it makes you clear.
Anna, I love your blog and quite simply, reading it helps me to decompress after work each day. You put a tremendous amount of love, creativity and soul into your blog and it comes right through to those of us who know and love your work. You are a creative powerhouse! Don’t let the haters get you down! Their negative comments are more a reflection of them than anything else… Know that there are many of us who love you and your work out there in the blogosphere!
i really love your blog! and i dicovered it – TROUGH THE CONTEST!!!! despite all the negativity coming up because of the contest…you won a whole lot of new readers!
I 100% think you did the right thing Anna. I hope you are feeling better.
I did not get a chance to see any of the comments about the AT contest on their website, mostly because I don’t visit that site much anymore. And the sole reason is because of the really mean tone of some of the comments and the frequency of those type of comments. For goodness sakes, AT is supposed to be about interior design — it was supposed to be entertaining! I can’t understand why some people get so worked up about someone else’s choice in chairs or paint. There is still a war in Darfur if they need to get riled up about something.
I really enjoy reading your blog because of your creativity, intelligence and good humor. I look forward to more in 2009! Best wishes!
Audrey
Anna, just wanted to say that Jo and I were also PO’ed at the happenings over at AT (although we both expected some drama as it seems to be a regular occurrence over there). It’s a shame there are people out there who love to spread negativity. As much as I wanted to go on AT and leave a comment or 2 of my own, I chose for once to shut my mouth (my bf made me). Sometimes that works best. Love your blog, your dogs and their haircuts, and I hope you feel better. Looking forward to orbital sanders…
That must have been a very distressing experience – I’m so sorry. I’ve been reading the other comments and am interested to read that other people feel as I do – that the AT community can be incredibly catty and nasty, which goes against the grain of AT’s positive, upbeat attitude.
At any rate, I wanted to tell you that I think your blog is glorious and hope that you don’t take the evil comments to heart.
Cry-baby here too! Case in point: I cry every time someone wins in the Olympics which means I’m a big mess afterwards!
I, for one, will continue enjoying your posts on Fritz and Bruno.. I think they are darling!
All I gotta say is good for you! and the dog is too cute for words!
Hi Anna,
I’ve just come back into the office from my Christmas break. I look forward to checking your blog everyday but as i have no computer at home i only get to check it in work so i didn’t see the AT events until today. I am sure you just want to put it behind you but i just really wanted to introduce myself, say hi and mention that i love your blog. Im really excited to have got a laptop in the sales and so hope to be an active blogger (well at least blog follower!!!) in 2009 as soon as i’m hooked up. Keep up the great blog -it helps me through another boring 9-5!!! Thank you
Not sure what the comments were.
But I love your blog and I would just ignore those who were snarky or rude.
You’re doing a great job and I love your blog!
I tend to believe AT when they say they aren’t able to take Anna out of the contest. 127 people would not get a way to vote for their second favorite. Anna, you see how warm everyone is and they like your site, and come to you and say so. You are second most popular (so far) to design*sponge. That’s a lot of people that like your site better than 6 other sites in the contest and many more that were not listed as finals. For a blog that is personal as opposed to resembling a magazine (more detached from readers but less specific, I mean), that’s outstanding. Don’t be sad, Anna. You are making and sharing something people like to see and want to get to know you and see what you’ll do tomorrow. Don’t let anyone who doesn’t like what you do diminish the reality that many adore and support you.
I love your blog. I think I found it from a link about mascara on NotMartha. People can care about both design and mascara (and dogs). I’m still waiting to find out about how you removed all that old paint from your window hardware. I have some nasty old paint encrusted hardware and I’m hoping there’s something wonderful underneath.
hi there! i just wanted to say that i found your blog through “the homies” contest and am so glad i did – it is really lovely. that said, i completely understand your feeling down due to some people’s comments. i didn’t read them, but as a writer for AT i know how snarky they can get. i love the pictures of your dogs, i love the pictures of your home, and i find the content of your blog in general to just be really insightful and interesting. you got my vote, and you are a new and most welcome addition to my daily blog reading. thank you! 🙂
i just found you via sfgirlbybay and am happy that i did! reading about your trials and tribulations, i was moved by your honesty and your spirit.
thank you for, well, being you.
Anna-
I don’t think I’ve ever commented on your blog, but I read it daily. I look forward to it more than any other. Your posts are always interesting and never too long, but they keep me thinking all day. Your house is my inspiration house and I show everyone I know. Thank you for all the inspiration you put out there for me and everyone else. Don’t let a few meanies stop you from bringing some happiness to others. Happy New Year.
I started reading your blog back when you lived in the city. I lost all my old bookmarks when my old computer crashed. I somehow stumbled upon your blog now. I believe that what people say should be taken with a grain of salt, and you cannot take it personally because these people who are so negative do not know you in real life. I adore your blog and love when you post about the renovations to your home.
I believe that people who project their negativity upon others, more or less feel that way about themselves.
I hope you continue blogging because seriously I need to get inspiration from somewhere.
I was gone for a while (took a bit of a holiday break from my reader,) so I missed this brewhaha with the Apartment Therapy contest, and while I am not reading through all the many comments above, so I am sure I will undoubtedly repeat all that has already been said, I wanted to comment still…
I love your blog for what you share of your home (your renovations have been beyond beautiful) and for what you share of your life. Your posts always seem real and honest, and I’ve been hooked since I first discovered your blog a little over a year ago.
I am sensitive with a bit of a thin-skin (and I am positive I wear my heart on my sleeve a bit too much,) but I too like to think that it makes me more compassionate. So I understand, and I know how I would feel in your place, but that said, I hope you don’t let any negative comments about Door Sixteen get you down- you truly have a brilliant blog that I always enjoy visiting. xx
Hi,
I came across your blog through AT-have not read the snarky comments but wanted to pipe in to say that I have the same problems with getting upset over internet stuff…I was on a mostly wonderful mailing list for a while and I really enjoyed the indepth debates and discussions but when I started to get attacked I found it really upsetting and had to quit…the silly thing is that I know I was getting attacked because my arguments were very good and those attacking where just going all ad hominem on me (many people from the list wrote me after to encourage me back but those few negative a-holes were too upsetting)….maybe I am too old for the internet discourse (I am 42) because I tend to interact on the interest in the very same way I would do in person–with the same courtesy….glad to see there are other soles out there with the same gentleness and courtesy!
I guess the bright side of your emotional sensitivy is that it is what makes you a very good blogger and what makes us want to keep reading and makes us feel a connection–I sure the negative A-holes of the world are unbearingly boring and don’t draw in any readers–or not for long….
Postive vibes coming at ya!
🙂
you have the perfect attitude.
The thing I like about your blog vs the others nominated is that it’s real, and you talk about your process. You don’t just take photos of products from other sites and post them. I am so tired of that.
I’m sitting over here on the other side of the world loving your blog, and wondering what their deal is ?!
Having just embarked my own renovations, your updates keep me sane & inspired.
We love the puppies too, please keep them involved. Bruno’s a bit of eye candy for my little girly Bruno look alike, she always checks him out when he’s on screen ( sorry Fritz ).
Sending positive reno, health & blog vibes from Australia
Anna, I also found your blog through the AT contest. I don’t know what the negative comments were, since I quit reading any comments at AT long ago, but I just wanted to say that I was so intriqued with your blog, I spent an afternoon just reading through all the old posts. It really is wonderful. You completely draw us into your world and make us all wish we lived in Newburgh so we could be your friend in real life!
you are wonderful. and as someone who has known you for a million years now, i can attest to the fact that the anna on the computer screen is the real deal. it’s that authenticity and sincerity that has earned you both friends and fans.
love you.
As another graphic designer also at the beginning of a long house renovation, I was thrilled to find Door 16 and Make It Lovely through the AT contest. I tend to avoid reading blog comments when possible because it usually just gets me riled up needlessly (and did not see the ones on AT), but just wanted to add my two cents of support here!
I used to have rhino skin; it’s gotten thinner with age (isn’t it supposed to be the other way around?). Your momma will tell you, consider the source(s), honey. Or as my m-i-l used to say (a long time ago), “Don’t let the turkeys get you down.” 😉
I’ve only commented here once before, and it was the night I found your blog, you had a dog post, I had just brought home a new puppy.
Keep up the great design posts, and yes, post about puppies (or anything else) whenever you feel like it, it’s your blog.
I’ve been sort of away from the internet the past few weeks and missed everything, so this comment will probably be pretty long and maybe redundant. First, I love Apartment Therapy, but I consistently find that the people who regularly comment there can be incredibly obnoxious, snobby, and judgmental.
Second, blogs like D16 – that are about both design and life – are my favorite types to read. I’m in my mid-twenties and am transitioning into adulthood and being comfortable in my own skin, and I look to blogs like yours for inspiration. To me, everything you write about – from remodeling your bathroom to what your dogs are doing to your make-up selections to just things you find pretty – is great!
You are runner up darling, that is something to NOT cry about. I think that is great news. Congratulations sweetie! You deserve it. I hope some fancy magazine reads that and comes out to photograph your home. Or better yet, hire a professional photographer and sell your images. 🙂
xo
Holly
hey i found your blog thru the contest via chez larssen who recommended you, who i also found thru AT. all humans are much nicer in person. it’s the internets that make people drop their manners as easily as i’m dropping my capital letters right here. don’t give it one more second of your energy or time or thoughts. when you’re in the public limelight this is what happens. you can’t take it personally or it will affect your spirits and most people are like me and see something new and say – wow – that looks like fun – i’ll check it out. no need for thick skin. just no need to let any bad stuff rest in your mind. but be prepared as you grow for more of this type of stuff. we’re all just humans and not always the brightest kind of monkeys around the joint 🙂
I’m glad that your site was nominated, because I might not have found it otherwise. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. To see you, the hubby, and the dogs going through life and fixing up your home has been a joy.
There are nasty people everywhere. Don’t let a few who decided to post nasty opinions get you down. It is obvious to anyone who reads your blog that you are a delightful person who is willing to share your ideas with other people and that you have a following.
As a new reader, I can tell you that your blog is a winner, awards or not.
I followed the whole thing and was really disapointed by how angry people can be…yours is a beautiful blog, obviously made with great love, as is your home…as a fellow cryer (ALL THE TIME!!) I hope everyone had a pop at you feels bad…HAPPY NEW YEAR XXX