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2019 marks 10 years since this blog begun. Ten whole years. Who’d have thought an inoffensive and humble platform nattering about nail polish and nurtured by two friends would still be standing a decade on. I forget the exact date as Just Nice Things started off as Helen & Sheenie’s Nice Things before we moved to Just Nice Things in March 2010. I think it was some time in February/March 2009. Any hoo…
Where has that time gone? Well a lot has happened – the excitement of discovering make-up and skincare, the opportunity to do something I love (writing) and the friends I’ve made, many of whom have since retired from beauty blogging but feature more prominently in my life.
I am proud to be an ‘old school’ beauty blogger but there is no way I could start a blog now. I’m lucky to have been part of a movement when there were no hard and fast rules, no incentives, no greed, no corruption, no cheating, no competition. It really was a genuine, unadulterated time with a strong and supportive community. Now it feels so cut-throat, so over-crowded and there is little to distinguish one blog from the other. On top of all this, there are now stricter rules and regulations on more transparency in declaring products gifted for review purposes and paid sponsorship – with serious consequences if not adhered to. I have always declared samples sent to me and any sponsored content, but I don’t feel affected by this new change, in fact it doesn’t bother me one iota although I welcome it because let’s admit it, there is quite a lot of shadiness going on.
So where does that leave things with me (seeing as I’m somewhat of a veteran beauty blogger and considered ancient amongst the whippersnappers out there)? Avid readers will know I am still blogging on beauty albeit selectively. I am pushing the boat out on other subjects like travel and food because they are fun and inspiring to write about and I’m also experimenting more with YouTube (thank you to everyone who has subscribed to my channel when I don’t upload regularly!). Speaking of YouTube, mama Shaikh is going to be bringing her cooking to a channel very soon – I promise!
I am slowing the pace down too (as if this wasn’t clear already in the past 18 months or so). I work full-time, I have adulting duties and responsibilities, I’m running outdoors again (and trying to reacquaint myself with the gym), I’m devoting more time to friends and family, and quite simply there are other things I like to do outside of blogging.
I do love to write and I have been doing so long before some of these big influencers were born. It’s probably the sole reason why this blog is still alive so although I may not be posting twice a day every day or be getting millions of hits a month and acquired celebrity status, I’m still going to be here, sharing and expressing my views. If you’re happy to stick around, then thank you. Honestly. Thank you. Your support means so much to me.
Happy Anniversary. I’m a bit late finding you, but very glad I did. All the best for the future.
Thank you, Ali!