Monday 28 January 2013

Happy birthday FHCS.

Two years. No, not how long it's been between posts. I've not been that neglectful a blogger. It's actually two years since I started writing the blog. Two hundred and eighteen posts, including this one. Hmm, that probably doesn't sound very impressive to anyone who posts every day. But it's good for me.



I hope you like how Faith Hope and Charity Shopping has turned out. Things have changed a fair amount as I worked out what I actually like to write about. There are and still will be posts when I find something second hand, but I reached a point where I realised I seemed to be accumulating tat for the sake of writing about it. That has stopped. I am going to make a concerted effort to only buy and write about things I really love. Which work with things I already own. And make the photos come out a little prettier. I am impressed -  in a tooth-grindingly jealous kind of way - with blogs where they manage to make a chipped cup look aspirational. Or an artfully placed spray-painted plastic dinosaur suddenly look amazingly modern. I want to combine my loves of modern design and vintage pieces in my house and my wardrobe, but fear you either have 'it' or you don't. It's a hard look to pull off, especially when half the household would vote for a Star Wars theme, accessorised with discarded socks and hot wheels cars.

Personal style blogs are some of my favourites. When they're good they're very good, but when they're bad...well, they're still entertaining! It's nearly five years post my last baby and only now do I feel as though I am recognising myself in the mirror again. Albeit more bleary eyed. That's quite lame isn't it? What was I doing all that time? Also the wardrobe sort out has revealed that er, I have a lot of designer jeans. And leather jackets. And scarves. This is not very exciting. I like stretchy jersey dresses with a denim jacket. [I'm think I'm overly influenced by people who stopped existing in the 90s. I blame you, Winona Ryder, Bridget Fonda and Jami Gertz]. A male friend recently commented that I haven't really drastically changed my going out look since school. I usually aim for a kind of 'I'm with the band' vibe. I can't do hair, but I'd like to. Still, I'm happy to try things on. Now I'm grown up I miss going to the shops with a friend, where we'd pick out the craziest things on the rails in Miss Selfridge and make each other try them on. I'd be the one who'd buy them. I guess blogs are a good replacement for this.



I talk about my kids occasionally, but do not want to be defined as a 'mummy blogger'. If something interests me, I'll write about it, but I'm not going to be a toy/mini breadstick/other random product 'ambassador'. I don't subscribe to any parenting styles and am quite certain I'm doing a lot of it wrong. I am grumpy. I quite frequently shout, and I forget to test Boy1 on his times tables. I threaten to hoover up small toys.* I think my kids are hilarious, but I also love it when they've gone to bed. I'm also well aware that it's all too easy to be very boring about your offpsring. [or pets, for those who haven't procreated. Yes, Captain Fluffypants looks very adorable sleeping on the sofa. As he did in the last 97 photos you put up]

I'm amazingly impressed by people who can really make things. Crocheting a dress. Knitting. Making trousers out of curtains and curtains out of trousers. Furnishing an entire doll's house from lolly sticks. Painting. [However if you crochet a terrifying baby doll I will share it on Facebook and sleep with the light on.] I'll keep putting up my silly craft cheats and glue-gun capers, but I think the fact that one of my most searched projects is a necklace made from two bits of lego says something uncomplimentary about my skill level. I'd like to do more art, it was one of my favourite occupations as a moody teen, although I'm not sure what I'd do with a whole load of charcoal daubings of Kurt Cobain these days.

I like funny. I love music and films and books and laughing about people in the public eye. I like travelling and discovering new places but spending most of my time in cafes and the museum shop. I like the crazy things that normal people make, do and sometimes try to sell on the internet. This is the kind of stuff I like writing about. I would like to meet some more of you this year and not be scared that you'll think I'm not...I don't know, enough. Young enough, old enough, thrifty enough, made up enough, stylish enough. Fuck it. I'll be me. And hopefully that will be enough.

Lakota x

PS. For bloggers who do write well about kids, craft, style, every day life - see my sidebar. <<<<<<<
And cos it's self-indulgent time, here's some of my favourite posts from the last year.


PPS. Back tomorrow. Stationery porn giveaway.



*This is an empty threat. I hate hoovering.

43 comments:

  1. Congratulations on 2 years of blogging i dont have a clue without looking back to when i started but i know its been a couple myself i will have to check now. Heres to many more great, fun posts from you, dee :-)

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  2. Congratulations on two years! You just keep doing what you do - all of your posts make me smile (some even make me laugh out load) x

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  3. Lakota, what a great piece of writing. There's nothing like blogging for helping you discover who you really are.
    I agree about the shopping for the sake of something to write about, I'd rather see someone posting the same few outfits rather than those "haul" posts which make me worry that they're going to end up in a Mtr Trebus type hovel.
    I'm off to Google Jami Gertz, you thirty-something whippersnappers and your 1990s references. I never even watched Friends!
    Happy 2nd birthday! xxx

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  4. Congrats n two years. Personally I love your eBay posts, hilarious :)

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  5. Ah Lakota I do love the honesty you always share with us! Happy 2 years and here's to another 2 at least! Try no to over think it either. I find that if I have something to post I will if I'm too busy or have nothing to say, well you won't see me for a bit. Just keep doing it and yes I would love to see you find your style by posting pictures of yourself more, that what's I'd like to see more of, you darling, you!
    XXOO

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  6. Congratulations on being two! I love your blog! And we all need stationary porn! x

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  7. Happy Birthday. I love your blog you make me laugh.A lot. Your writing is witty & clever & intelligent. (And I'm not just saying that because I know you). I would love to see you 'get paid for this shit', it's much better shit than many many columns in magazines. Here's to the next 2 years & where that will lead xxx

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  8. ps And you inspired me to start writing myself. I just wish I could be half as good as you. (I want to be you when I grow up - even though technically I'm a wee bit older) xxx

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  9. I love the mixture of topics on your blog - your humour reminds me of the woman who writes Cake Wrecks and blimey I love that blog when I've had a rubbish day! Blogging is a funny thing - I often don't feel like 'enough' but then I decided that my little blog is only really for me and people who like it enough to read it so what does it matter :-) The Frog Princess has to be one of my favourite blog posts on ANY blog that I read in 2012. Would definitely be intrigued to find out if you are beautiful 'like a frog' or not in real life one day :-P

    Happy 2 Years my lovely!! And here's to another 2 giggly years :-)

    Jem xXx

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  10. happy anniversary and long may it continue, :)

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  11. Happy birthday to you!

    This post made me laugh, especially the bit about being grumpy and the idle threat around the hoovering.

    Now I need to go and read those other posts you mentioned. Keep up the good work I say!

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  12. Happy Two Years! My two year blogiversary is on Friday. I can't believe I kept it up this long! Anyway, I love your blog and can't wait for another 2 years!

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  13. Happy Blogaversary!!
    Don't change a thing!!
    Except post more pix of yourself and don't worry if they aren't aspirational or arty enough. Heck at 5:30am when I take my outfit pix I'm just happy to not knock the tripod over!!

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  14. Happy 2nd birthday! It's all too easy to do something - shop or make - for the sake of posting to the blog. I admire your resolve and I look forward to reading your posts.

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  15. Hey! Congratulations! I always look forward to your posts, even more so because they are less often! I love funny Lakota! the one who makes me howl with laughter! I love all your crafty stuff! I think I do everything I do pretty badly on my blog- craft (rubbish), clothes (I'm one of the latter types you mention!) but I still enjoy doing it so that's what it's all about isn't it! You've found your thang!!!x

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  16. Congrats on two years! I haven't been reading you that long, but I love your sense of humor (also in your comments to me - "not saying you're skanky"). I would read your blog for all kinds of topics if you make me laugh and don't expect me to adore your children or pets.

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  17. Happy bloggerversary. Here's where I insert blogger jealousy- how you can amass nearly 700 devotees in only 200 odd posts? I am nearing the five year mark, 700 plus posts and counting and still nobody knows me, lol. But you are talented and likable so I will discard my envy and congratulate. Besides, I just made my first ecard which will be linked here for tadah tuesday. Hugs.

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  18. Happy Birthday FHCS, thanks for the laughs xx

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  19. Happy bloggerversary, Lakota. I am so glad that you do blog.
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  20. Happy blog birthday! I hope people do judge blogs on content rather than the name (otherwise they'd be expecting me to only write about kids and you just about chazzing). Your blog always makes me chuckle and if you want to meet a blogger in real life I'm not far from you *sounds stalker alert*

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  21. Congratulations! Agree with everyone who says don't go changin'! I love the way you write Lakota, you're funny and creative with words and with stuff. Do understand what you mean about gathering tat for the sake of a post - sometimes think it works the other way for me and I use blogging as an excuse to buy....definitely could do with being more selective though!
    Happy anniversary x

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  22. Happy BlogDay to you! Although I'm much older than you, I can relate to so much of what you have posted.
    Don't give up, keep your blog just as it is, I see from the previous comments, we ALL love your 'ramblings'... they are so well put together.... Have a happy day.

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  23. A mighty fine 2 years' blogging, Lakota!
    Blogs grow and develop and adapt, and that's fine, isn't it? Whatever you want to do with yours, your followers will come along with you. You always make me laugh, and you have a finely tuned sense of the absurd, perfect for skewering the foibles of modern celebrity and the oddities of Ebay!
    And if you want to show us a frock or something crafty or chat about the kids - that's all good too.
    Of course you are enough. Here's to the next 2 years! xxxx

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  24. Happy Anniversary Lakota! Do keep up the good work and making me LOL with your hilarious posts! Thanks for your fab swapsies - I love them and have made good blog friends through them. Will wait with antici.....pation for tomorrow's stationery teaser - one of my favourite things!

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  25. Happy blogiversary FHC. Love your posts so please keep on keeping on Lakota (although I totally hear you about not buying quite so much tat just to blog about it). Would love to see more outfit posts too x

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  26. Oh my gosh I laughed so hard at this post. I just watched the Pearl Jam 20 documentary on Netflix last night and went to bed crying that it wasn't still 1994. Cuz then I would be 24 and I could be like Bridgit Fonda in "Singles." Instead I'm 43 and writing about my kid's birthdays and how much I hate laundry.
    Anyway, I'm glad I found your blog. I like your "style."

    kindly,
    Jenny

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  27. I'm happy to read you're 'normal' (and I do NOT mean boring here!) Lakota. When I read those 'mummy blogs' I feel like a complete and utter failure. No fancy, styled to the max birthday parties here. Lots of screaming, fighting, swearing (I know!), and me hanging out for bedtime (even now, and they're teenagers!) and a glass of wine. I'm also slightly in awe of those women who frock up and take gorgeous pics of themselves. I can't do that either a) the camera hates me and b) I'd look like a bag lady. Just keep writing about whatever you want to Lakota, and I'll read it. And if I was ever lucky enough to meet you I know I'd love you...just the way you are x

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  28. Congratulations! I found you through the Retro Food cook-off this year, and have greatly enjoyed exploring ever since. Here's to many more years of fun!

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  29. You are a gifted writer and I love your blog as it is, it's obvious, like it happens in real life, that we always want to do it better and we think we are not enough good at things, but you should keep on doing as you always did.
    I'm a big fan.Happy anniversary!!
    xxxxxx

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  30. Happy Blogiversairy! and congratulations on so many fantastic posts. I really enjoy reading your blog, I love the DIY's and your posts really make me laugh.

    I can definitely identify with some of the stuff you say. I got to the point where I was buying stuff to blog about, it had to stop. I also forget to do times tables with the children and regularly threaten to hoover and bin toys. I can't remember if I have ever actually carried out the threat.I love my kids too but can't help breathing a big sigh of relief when they are tucked up in bed.

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  31. Don't ever change we love you just as you are! Happy blogging birthday. x

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  32. You're hilarious, Lakota, this blog post was funny and enlightening to read - so nice to learn more about you! Happy Blogoversary and keep on being you! Xo

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  33. Hurrah! I always love your posts... yes, just be you. Having met you I know how funny you are in real life as well as on your blog. Please post more!
    ps: still on for London? x

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  34. You are most definitely one of my favourite bloggers Lakota, (without sounding like a fan girl) you always make me laugh and I truly find joy in your posts! There’s always going to be a really good lifestyle blogger and a really stunning fashion blogger, better at taking photos, better at artsy stuff, but hey I’ve always believed in good written form and fresh content – and you certainly have bundles of both.

    Happy 2 year anniversary xxx

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  35. Aah you're a good writer, no matter what you write about.

    Happy blogaversary, one day late...sorry.

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  36. A most happiest blogaversary to you!!!!!!!

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  37. Happy blog anniversary to you! Sarah xxx

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  38. Happy blog anniversary Lakota, I love this blog by the way, you say so many things I agree with. I don't want my blog to be a mummy blog either, though I fear it is a bit at the moment because I'm always with the kids, I've no one else to write about basically! But I'm far from one of those perfect mums and I much prefer reading a blogger like you who is funny and honest about family life. And my few outfit post blogs were terrible, I'm just not a stylish enough person to blog my outfits, so I don't think I'm going to go down that road. But I like the idea of my blog developing over time as yours has. I'm quite new here but I look forward to your blogs because they're witty and unpredictable, which is some feat if you've been blogging for two years. xx

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  39. Happy Happy Happy two years!
    And to many more..... =)

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  40. Happy Birthday FH&CS!!! I love you just the way you are :) xx

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