Link Love Wednesday: And So It Begins!

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Today marks the first day of May, and in honor of the new month, I am rolling out a brand new feature on this blog: Link Love Wednesdays! It’s the middle of the week – couldn’t you use a little pick-me-up? Every Wednesday, I will post links to articles/lists/blogs/etc. that piqued my interest that week, and share them with each of you. Have you read anything great this week?

• Dove’s Campaign for True Beauty is well-received by consumers, but how effectively does it actually sell Dove products? This study shows how a video can go viral, but still might not work well as an advertisement.
• With graduation coming up for many of us, we may need to learn a few tricks about how we can fake being adults (until we really make it, of course!).
• By decoding a person’s body language, you can figure out their motives and use that to your advantage! Gala Darling provides a fun-to-read guide on how to use body language to get whatever you want.
• Are you a tea lover like me? Adagio lets you create your own “character-infused” tea blends, inspired by characters in books, movies, television shows and other fandoms.
• It’s not easy being beautiful. Mental Floss reveals seven of the most terrifying beauty practices in history.
• We’ve all gone through those stressful periods of time (especially in college!) when things seem too overwhelming for us to handle. Sarah from Yes and Yes talks about some of the ways we can stop psyching ourselves out in stressful situations.
• We are obsessed with closure, but there are times when we just won’t get the closure we think we deserve. This blog talks about our expectations versus reality and why closure often doesn’t exist.

Enjoy the links!

The Weekend Five: Blogging Highlights of 2012

I can’t believe the year is almost up!

For me, 2012 has been a spectacular year in the realm of blogging. Although I didn’t have as much time to write as I did in 2011, I experienced some major milestones here at So It Must Be True throughout the past 12 months. Today, as we approach the very end of 2012, I would like to share some of this year’s most memorable moments, and to thank each of you for being such an integral part of the blogging experience.

The Weekend Five: Blogging Highlights of 2012

1. In 2012, I received nearly twice as many visitors as I did in 2011, and I had visitors from at least 77 countries.
It is so exciting to look at the blog’s analytics and discover that people from all around the world are reading! I love hearing from you, and am always thrilled when I receive a notification that someone has subscribed to the blog. I am hoping to grow the blog even more in 2013 through stronger branding and more frequency in posts.

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2. My site received a makeover, including several new pages that made it easier to navigate.
This year, I created a Portfolio page, complete with all of my written work that has been published elsewhere, as well as a special Links page that readers could reference for suggested reading. I also made some major revisions to my About page, and revamped the Awards & Press page as well. A new look is a girl’s best friend, no?

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3. I wrote my first guest blog.
Earlier this year, I was asked to write an article for a very cool site called HUGstronger.org for its September series. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity! My post, Unhealthy Relationships: 5 Signs That The Nice Guy Isn’t So Nice, was a blast to write, especially on a topic so close to my heart. In 2013, I hope to be able to write more guest posts for HUGstronger and other blogs out there!

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4. I received four blogging awards.
In 2012, I was extremely fortunate to receive the Versatile Blogger Award, the Very Inspirational Blogger Award, the Illuminating Blogger Award and the Kreativ Blogger Award. How awesome is that? I am so thankful to have such supportive fellow bloggers, and I look forward to passing the awards along to other talented writers out there.

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5. I was able to connect with more writers and readers than ever before.
Ultimately, having this blog would be completely worthless without having such wonderful readers. I have been lucky to have the chance to interact with so many of you in the last year and, in turn, explore your sites and share content. A huge thank you to everyone who reads, subscribes and comments on my blog! I read each and every one of your comments, and I truly enjoy looking at your blogs as well.

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Thank you to everyone for making 2012 so bright! I look forward to an even brighter 2013.

Fellow bloggers, what were the highlights of your blogging experience this year?

Unhealthy Relationships: 5 Signs That The Nice Guy Isn’t So Nice

Good evening, readers!

I am pleased to kick off the September series at HUGstronger with a guest post entitled Unhealthy Relationships: 5 Signs That The Nice Guy Isn’t So Nice. We’ve all heard about the bad boy we’re supposed to avoid, but what happens when he’s harder to spot than we expect? Check out my post and be sure to take a look at the rest of the site — HUGstronger is an amazing blog for anyone in college who is facing a challenge and needs encouragement.

Enjoy, and let me know what you think!

xoxo Val

Kreativ Blogger Award!

Hello everyone! Just recently, I was fortunate enough to receive the Kreativ Blogger Award from the ever so talented Julie (Of a Writerly Sort). Thank you, Julie! To accept the award for creative blog content, I must share seven things about myself and then pass it on to seven other bloggers.

I’m still in the process of selecting recipients for this award (as well as for the Versatile Blogger Award and Very Inspirational Blogger Award), so stay tuned for those. Here are seven facts you guys may not have known about me!

1. I am learning to play the Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World medley on my new ukulele, whose name is Tiberias.

2. My closet is color-coordinated and the books on my shelf are alphabetized.

3. I made my acting debut this past year as Buttercup from the Powerpuff Girls in the school’s Homecoming skit. (There is a video somewhere on the Internet, but I will not be posting the link!)

4. One of my goals in life is to become so successful in my field of study that I am asked to give a TED Talk someday.

5. When I was in high school, I wanted to marry Adam Brody. Then I saw him on an interview and realized I actually wanted to marry Seth Cohen, his character on The O.C. Then I realized I really just had a thing for nerdy (but still cute) guys who listen to Death Cab for Cutie and make sarcastic comments about society.

6. I am a huge fan of roller coasters!

7. Rabid sports fans annoy me more than almost anything else.

I hope this gave you all a deeper insight into my life I would once again like to say thank you for such a lovely award. I am truly honored!

I Won The Illuminating Blogger Award!

On Monday night, I was thrilled to learn that I won the Illuminating Blogger Award for illuminating, informative blog content, courtesy of Food Stories. I am fortunate to have such wonderful readers, and I wouldn’t be able to do this blog without each of you.

In accepting this award, I have to share one random thing about myself, so here goes (in honor of tonight’s finale of America’s Next Top Model): Sometimes I do a decent impression of Tyra Banks.

As another part of accepting this award, I get the opportunity to pass it on to five other talented bloggers. Therefore, I would like to give the Illuminating Blogger Award to the following bloggers:

1) Sarah from Bumfuzzled Jane.
This nutrition and fitness blog is motivating and easy to relate to. Not only does she provide a lot of helpful information, but she does so in an interesting and funny way.

2) Julie from Of a Writerly Sort.
The talented authoress shares her own tips for aspiring fiction and YA writers. It’s always fun to hear about the writing process from her perspective, and her advice is helpful for anyone who has ever suffered from writer’s block (read: everyone).

3) Truthlets & Thoughtbits.
Her blog is constantly winning awards for its insightful posts about wellness. You can’t help but feel inspired by what she has to say!

4) HUGstronger.
Headed by the super talented Kaleigh Somers, HUGstronger is the perfect safe haven for college students to turn to. Students from across the country provide their own expertise about the collegiate experience, and bring hope to those who need it.

5) Becca at  College Relationships.
A professional counselor at a university, Becca is an excellent source for all things relationships. It’s always fun to read her perspective on dating in college, and her information can be extremely useful.

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Congratulations to all of you! And thanks again for all of your kindness and support

Note: I still haven’t given nominations for some of the other awards I’ve received– I promise I will! I just want to put some good thought into all of them

I Won the Versatile Blogger Award!

After spending a mediocre day at the doctor and in bed, I was both surprised and ecstatic to learn that I have won the Versatile Blogger Award! Thanks to Sharon from Hyperactive Inefficiency (who so kindly nominated me for the award), my day has gotten a whole lot better, and I am extremely honored to have even been considered.

As one of the rules for accepting this award, I must tell you seven things you might not know about me.

1. If I were a Disney princess, I would be Belle.

2. Contrary to what my social standing in high school would suggest, I was a cheerleader for five years and was, at one point, ranked at the All-American level. (Read: I used to do flips and stuff.)

3. I collect spoons from every new state, country or exciting tourist attraction I visit.

4. I could watch the TCM channel all day, especially if they were having a Humphrey Bogart/Audrey Hepburn/Katharine Hepburn/Spencer Tracy marathon. Old Hollywood > New Hollywood. (Does that make me sound like a hipster?)

5. My most recent obsession is the new fairy-tale show Once Upon a Time on ABC. I’m waiting for an excuse to blog about some aspect of it… because it’s that good.

6. Back in October, I orchestrated a Triwizard Tournament consisting of nearly 100 people.

7. I never know what to write about myself!

Another rule for accepting the award means that it’s my turn to nominate 15 versatile bloggers for this award. I will be announcing those nominees in a future post!

I would love to thank Sharon once again for such an honor I’m so flattered to have been considered!

The Friday Five: What I’ve Learned From Blogging

On most days, I don’t write anything specific about my personal life, but today is a notable exception. Today marks a very special one-year anniversary for me — in fact, exactly one year ago, I registered for an account on WordPress and started blogging right here. 365 days and 96 posts later, I have loved every minute of the blogging experience, and have grown tremendously since the very first post I ever wrote on WordPress.

To commemorate this occasion, I would like to share some of what I’ve learned in the past year of blogging. Feel free to comment below with some of what you’ve learned as well!

The Friday Five: What I’ve Learned From Blogging

1. You never know who is reading.
It doesn’t matter who your target audience is… you will still attract readers from other groups as well. Yes, most of my readers are college students, but I have also heard from various family members and employers who have read it as well. My readers come from all over the world and it is amazing to hear from so many perspectives when reading through comments. Blogging has allowed me to learn more about others, but it has also taught me the importance of inclusivity and not alienating any potential readers.

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2. Blogging means community.
Throughout my blogging experience, I have found that it is extremely important to keep up with other blogs in order to stay fresh and informed. In doing this, I’ve been able to meet and interact with a variety of bloggers, forming somewhat of a community through WordPress, Twitter and other social media. As a blogger, I have become acquainted with such a variety of writers, and in turn, have introduced some of my IRL friends to the world of blogging.

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3. There’s a Taylor Swift song for everything.
I used to make fun of a lot of Taylor Swift songs for their subject matter (“I like this boy but he doesn’t know I exist” “I’m in a relationship and it’s the best thing ever” “I wear a lot of dresses”) but with the release of her album Speak Now, I realized that I could relate to more of her songs than I thought. With nearly 10 percent of my blog posts pertaining to something written by T. Swift, I can’t simply disregard the fact that there will always be an artist whose work speaks to you. For the past year of my life, Taylor Swift’s music has spoken to me, and it will be interesting to see who and what I draw inspiration from in the next year.

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4. Making connections is one of the most important things you can do.
In English classes, we are taught to look for specific literary devices that don’t mean much to us personally, but as a blogger, I’ve definitely been able to pick out more prominent themes in famous works and apply them to my own life. Whether an excerpt from a novel, a scene from a movie or a line from a song, these various pieces can shed some insight on our own life experiences and observations, and help to point out a more universal truth. Blogging has taught me the power of making such connections and also enhanced my overall enjoyment of the works I read, watch and listen to.

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5. You are bound to contradict yourself.
In time, as you learn and grow from every experience, you will find that sometimes your thoughts, feelings and opinions will change. Because of this, some of your blogs might seem to contradict one another, and that’s okay. A blog doesn’t have to be perfectly static — it can change over time, just as you will. Realize that what you find in the next year may surprise you, and embrace the contradictions that you face.

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To my readers: Thank you for such a wonderful first full year of blogging. You have all been such an inspiration to me and I could not have done it without your support.

To my fellow bloggers: What have you learned from your experiences in blogging?

My Blog Has Been Nominated!

Hi everyone! Hope you’re looking forward to my next post, coming out sometime later today.

I thought I’d let you guys know that my blog has been nominated for The Sun-Sentinel Best of Blogs Award in the categories of Defies Categorization, Personal and Pop Culture. If any of you are interested in voting or even want to look at some of the other nominations (there are lots of other categories, too!), check it out by clicking here. Voting is open until Monday the 11th at 10 a.m. I will keep everyone posted on the results next week.

Thank you for the support! I love all of my readers and I couldn’t do this without you.

The Friday Five: Reasons NOT to Post a Friday Five

Between classes, internships, club meetings, a social life and attempts to sleep, it can be difficult to finish blogs on time. Because of this, bloggers may occasionally neglect their weekly and monthly regulars. My Friday Fives have been no exception! Having skipped three weeks because of time constraints, I would like to dedicate this post to the reasons why a blogger (perhaps this specific blogger!) might miss a post or two. Enjoy!

The Friday Five: Reasons NOT to Post a Friday Five

1. The homework for your online class is due on Friday nights and you always wait until the last minute on those.

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2. You were getting ready for a theme party and put more thought into your costume than your WordPress.

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3. You were packing to leave for Spring Break.

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4. You were packing to return from Spring Break.

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5. Your life is so hectic that you’ve simply forgotten what day of the week it is.

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Sorry to everyone for neglecting this segment! I will try to make these a bigger blogging priority!

Thank you, readers!

As a writer, one of the greatest feelings comes from knowing that what you wrote had a positive impact on someone. The ability to relate to others – many of whom live halfway across the globe – has always meant a great deal to me, and so when one of my blog entries receives a lot of comments (or even just a few really heartfelt ones), I can’t help but smile. I love when someone tells me that what I wrote has helped him or her in some way – at the risk of sounding cliche, it really does mean the world to me.

On Wednesday, my blog was featured on BestUniversities.com’s article entitled 50 Blog Posts Every College Applicant Should Read. (Those 50 entries cover a lot of ground, so no matter where you are in the college process, you should definitely check their article out!) Anyway, this is a huge honor for me! Seeing my article on that list meant that I would be able to share my college experience to a greater number of people, and maybe make their freshman years that much easier.

I started blogging at A Paper Town for a Paper Girl back in April 2010 because I wanted a place to share my writing openly with the world. Of course, I never thought I’d have more than five readers. After switching to WordPress in late June and creating my monthly features (most notably the Freshman 15 series), I’ve been able to slowly develop a following and interact with my readers. At the beginning of this month, one of my entries was Freshly Pressed on WordPress, and it was my proudest moment in blogging to date. Being able to relate to that many people around the world, some of whom actually said that my article helped them in some way, was truly an experience to remember.

So far, as a blogger, I’ve learned that the greatest joy in writing is not merely sharing your story with others, but letting those others in to share their stories with you. As much as I love to write on my own time, I would not enjoy blogging nearly as much if I didn’t have such wonderful, interactive and loyal readers as you. Thank you all for making it an experience worthwhile. I hope that as time goes on I will be able to do the same for you!