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Best of The Blog: 2013

best of the blog 2013 cover

In December 2012, I left my corporate 9-6 job to take on the role of a full-time blogger.

One year later, I’m still enjoying the baffled looks on people’s faces when I tell them what I do for a living –

“I run a blog”

“A what?”

The older generation needs “blogging” to be defined to them, and the younger ones usually follow it up with “Can you do that for a living? How do you generate revenue?”

If there’s just one thing I’ve learnt this past year and want to share it with you, it’s this –

Anything is possible

You know how everyone asks you what you want to be when you grow up? My most long-standing answer was “Writer. Editor.” But I never knew how to get there. I couldn’t see the path. So I did the one thing I’ve heard over and over again, but never understood what it meant till I actually did it – I took the first step. I took it in December 2012 and slowly but surely, a whole staircase appeared through the course of 2013.

Best Of The Blog

I started the new year with a Prologue to what would turn out to be the most viewed series on the blog, ever – thedelhibells – which has been viewed close to 70,000 times till date! The post about my wedding day is not only the most popular one in this series, but it’s also the 2nd most popular post on the whole blog!

Best of blog 2013 posts

Other posts that made it to the top 5 were –

While these posts were most popular, there are some that were my favourites but didn’t make it to the list. Here they are (a mixed bag from 2012 & 2013)!

Many Firsts

2013 was a year of many, many firsts for me and the blog. I wrote my first guest posts, and got to work with the fabulous teams at IndianRoots and eStylista. I attended my first ever fashion week, and had my first ever Twitter Q&A thanks to Tanishq! I went seriously candid in the Ask Me Anything session on ask.fm and finally stepped away from the laptop to meet brides in person – for Tanishq’s bridal styling session at their Delhi store, followed by an appearance on the LIVE Virtual Wedding Show this December!

The blog received it’s first mention in a magazine, which was followed by what seemed like a landslide of media mentions! I had to create a whole page dedicated to all the press love we’ve received, and I love flipping through it when I need some motivation to keep going.

And A Lot Of Thanks

But it’s YOU who keeps me going every day. All your emails, messages and comments. Every like on a Facebook post, every re-tweet – you might not know it, but I see all of them, see all of YOU and it makes me fall in love with my job over and over again. I was “trying” the blog thing some time back, but this is my whole life now. There’s no going back. And I don’t wish to anymore.

It’s YOU who has made my dream come true. Your appreciation, your feedback – I truly believe I have the best readers in the world! You don’t hesitate to say what’s on your mind, to ask for everything that you need. Please keep doing whatever it is that you do, it’s what keeps this blog alive!

I can’t end this post without thanking the people in my life who have made this possible. My family – for their endless supply of support, motivation, praise and honestly the biggest gift ever – believing in me when I’ve not believed in myself. To know that they read this blog makes me happy beyond words! While it’s hard to mention what every single family member has done, I do need to say a big thank you to two people specifically – my husband (of course!) for never, ever having even a shadow of a doubt about my ability to run a blog; and my sister – for inspiring me to follow my dream by following hers with such single-minded determination! And to my friends – thanks for never laughing at me for doing what I do. It would be so easy for anyone to belittle the work that I do, but you guys don’t. It might seem like a small thing, but it means a lot to have you try and take it seriously. I say “try” because I’m sure many of you must think “What on Earth is Shinjini doing exactly?!” but you keep that thought aside and instead indulge me in hour long conversations about where to take the blog next.

Finally, it feels so. damn. good. to hear from you when you tell me “Your blog is so popular!” I swear to God, I’m secretly crying with happiness on the inside when you tell me your friends who are brides read the blog, that your 19 year old sister who’s obviously not getting married any time soon is a big fan, and that you bought your wedding lehenga from Om Prakash Jawahar Lal after reading about it here. It’s all very overwhelming and makes me incredibly grateful! I know the stats, I know the numbers – I know the blog has a long way to go and it’s so sweet of you to call it popular, but when you come up to me and tell me that your friends in Mumbai, London, heck, even Colorado are fans of the blog – I feel a level of happiness no “number” can elicit!

Thank you, thank you, thank you – to all of you who read the blog!

Here’s hoping you too take that first step in 2014. Anything, nay, everything is possible.

happy new year 2014

What are your favourite posts from 2013? And what are your plans for 2014?

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38 thoughts on “Best of The Blog: 2013”

  2. You deserve all the accolades that come your way. None of my friends have NOT heard about u. It’s a cycle u see..had u not been so damn good..you wouldt have had so many people who love to read what you write!! So keep up the good work..u are truly inspiring!! Lots of love!!

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  3. Shinjini, thank you for all your efforts. It’s so nice to hear that you have a loving family and a network of friends that support you through everything. It maybe be hard for some people to understand what you do for a living but eventually they will see your entrepreneurial spirit and the fact that you are so ahead of your times. If it wasn’t for this blog, I would be totally lost about where to go shopping and what to expect in Delhi. So, thanks again and keep on doing what you love to do.

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    1. Lovely to hear that the blog has helped you, Shikha 🙂 That’s the main reason for which I write the blog! And yes, I’m truly grateful to everyone around me – nobody travels a path alone, it’s our near & dear ones who do so much for us to be able to follow our dreams. So great to hear from you, thanks for reading!

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  4. hey shinjini..A big thanks to u fr being a part of our lives!!! reading what u write is a pleasure! keep doing so! u hav a longg way to go..gud luck,love shruti

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  5. Shinjini, I came across your blog from Peachesandblush and I must say you deserve a lot of respect. And please note, we are continuously reading this blog from Nepal. hats off…..for the efforts. Yes, we bloggers have many more to go……

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    1. Wow! All the way from Nepal!!! I didn’t know the blog had readers from there! I’ve heard it’s a beautiful, peaceful place – can’t wait to visit! Thanks for following the blog Shilu!

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  6. Your blogging success is inspirational. As a working blogger myself, I must say it takes courage to leave your job and write a blog for a living. I haven’t been able to take that step yet myself. Wish you a very happy new year and many more successful blogging days ahead!

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  8. wish you a very happy new year.. I love reading your blog.. May you blog grow and help lots of bride to be and newly weds.. Looking forward to see more post on how to balance life after marriage too

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  9. Hey darling…amazing blog,I must say.i check your blog almost the first thing in the morning 😬 … And since I am going to be married soon..will need your help for getting my “special” outfits….

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  10. Hey Shinjini! I’ve always been a silent reader, but I thought this post definitely deserved a comment! Your writing is so eloquent and genuine. Hope you are still writing when I get married, which is a good 5 years away!
    Happy New Year all the way from Houston! 🙂

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  11. Shinjini !! I got married in November and you have been my angel 🙂 . Your blog helped me throughout my shopping spree, managing events and what not. And yes, I got my lehenga from OPJL after reading your post and it was lovely.
    You are an inspiration for girls like us who are trying to find a way out of their mundane jobs. A big thanks to you !!! Keep up the good work !!

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  13. Hey I just love to update myself with your lovely blogs. I can say its close to my heart. My day starts with THEDELHIBRIDE 🙂 U r truly amazing… Keep Rocking !! Lobs of LOVE
    Regards,
    One of your Ahmedabad blog reader 🙂

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  14. i m hooked with your blog dear… just love reading it… i just want one thing from u … to write more frequently like everyday something new…though m realetively new to your bolg …m hooked
    u were destined to be a blogger 🙂

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      1. 🙂 grt !!
        shinjini , do update these sales as u have done… i will be in delhi in feb or march… having wedding in nov or dec… have to do shopping.. which i have not yet started

        n yaa i was just wondering wats the meaning of your name.. it sounds lovable ..

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          1. wow u made my day… i wanted to go frontier raas before going to chandni chowk for lehenga hunt… n its perfect timing. 🙂 thanks. going to need more of ur help in whole wedding planning 🙂

            n as the name meaning to0 nice… tell aunty grt choice of name 😉

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  17. Happy New Year Shinjini!! 🙂
    I’ve always read your posts silently but this post made me write here today. You’ve been a great help and the fact that you respond to mails immediately with as much details as possible has helped me plan my upcoming wedding so much. That shows your love and dedication to what you do. Thank you so much. ❤
    Cant wait for this years posts and many more years to come 🙂

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