Year In Review 2015

Press Samples 

Purchased by Me

As another year comes to a close, we humans have a habit of reflecting back on the year just gone. I'm not sure why exactly, but it happens. Tomorrow is just another day...like yesterday or Wednesday 3 weeks ago. Nevertheless, this is the day it usually happens.

So I thought I'd go through my year, both as Sheila and as Pointless Cafe.

The biggest "life event" for me this year was moving 1300 miles across the country. Going "home."




Because I wanted to move back to my hometown in Indiana for the entire 32 years since I left it, I didn't stop to consider how overwhelming it would be. I was laser focused and ignored all of the possible negatives. Which, I guess if you think about it, is the only way we ever get anything done really.  If I'd thought about 32 years worth of "crap and stuff" that would need to be packed up, hauled all the way from Texas to Indiana and then unpacked...all the utilities, red tape, car registration, drivers' license stuff, internet connections, I might have just sat my butt down in the middle of the floor and cried. (I may or may not have done that anyway.) Thankfully, I didn't think about it and was therefore able to take it one bite at a time. Like eating an elephant, right? Yeah. I'm still trying to digest that sucker. And that last bite? Selling the house in Texas? Yeah I can't seem to get that one swallowed. Wanna buy a house in Texas?

My blog suffered, the dogs had to adjust and something I hadn't considered...I had to adjust. ME. I'm such a go with the flow, flexible, adaptable person that I really either didn't think about the emotional adjustments or I didn't think they would affect me as they did. 32 years is a long time to be somewhere. Even if you don't like it, there are emotional attachments formed, nonetheless. Friends. Food. (We won't talk about the Great Tamale Incident of 2015, thankyewverymuch.)

All in all though? I'm SO happy to be back home. And I've settled in and started blogging more like I did before the move. I still don't have my office complete, so I'm coming to you live from my kitchen island!

So what did YOU think were some of my most popular posts in 2015 here at Pointless Cafe? Well let's have a look at the Top 20 Most Viewed Posts of 2015.

Coming in at number 1, a very recent post, which is odd given it hasn't had the time the others have. But considering the content - the much anticipated return of one of the ultimate nail polish unicorns - I'm not surprised.

1. Essie Starry Starry Night New Version vs Old Version with Comparisons

2. It's Been 4 Years Already?

3. Zoya Naturel Satin Collection

4. Nail Art 2014 - my most popular and my top favorite nail artists.

5. 24 Nail Art Ideas for Halloween

6. L'Oreal Masked Affair - this one was odd to me because I basically panned it. Hard. And people still wanted it. LOL!

7. KBShimmer Spring 2015

8. Colors by Llarowe Winter 2015

9. Weekend Bits and Bobs: Drugstore Beauty - I can't wait to get back to doing the Weekend Bits and Bobs posts...they were the most fun for me and the most popular with readers!

10. Literary Lacquers Community Collection 2015

11. A Box Indied December 2015 - Reloaded

12. Crowstoes ValenCrow Collection

13. Girly Bits Hoop There It Is Collection

14. KBShimmer Fall 2015 Collection

15. Top 5 Indies: The Browns

16. Colors by Llarowe Fall 2015 Collection

17. Zoya Delight Collection Spring 2015

18. Girly Bits Hocus Pocus Collection

19. KBShimmer Winter 2015

20. Colors by Llarowe Valentine Trio

Those are the top 20 posts you showed the most love to!

And still, nearly 5 years later, the one post you've viewed the most is...

Thank Goodness for Quilted Toilet Paper

Thanks to you wonderful people I recently hit FOUR MILLION PAGEVIEWS too! You guys ROCK!

And my most popular nail art for 2015? I'm glad you asked - hehe. I've picked out 7 of the most popular ones.

Caffeine Nail Art

It goes with my necklace *grin*

Fall Scarecrow

Fall Acorns and Leaves

Chinese Ink Landscape

Wine and Cheese

Abstract "Painterly"

And...I got to see someone I hadn't seen in OVER 45 years. Florence Henderson is the sister of my dear sweet babysitter from my childhood. And this is what we looked like over 45 years apart. I think she's aged better than I have.

Vegas and Cosmoprof NA was a blast. I got to meet so many more new people and reconnect with friends from the previous year. And my winning streak continued too! The previous year I hit a $25K jackpot. This year I hit several, one of which was a $12K jackpot and left with more than the year before. Hope it continues next year!

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So...I've learned to say NO more often. I've learned that blogging is a blast but not if you let it become a chore.

I've learned quite a lot I wasn't too keen to learn as well, in the form of drama in the nail polish world. I had the distinct "pleasure" to watch the second worst narcissist (at best and psychopath at worst)  I've ever met explode and send shrapnel flying into many good friends of mine. I managed to only get a small piece in the um...posterior region which I'm still trying to dig out with the tweezers. Some of my friends didn't get off as easy.

I've gotten to spend time with my best friend since kindergarten (that's nearly 45 years, folks - yes I'm that old) since moving home. Both my dogs seem to be adjusting. I can't wait for their first snow though! If ever winter finally gets here.

I didn't get to go to Scotland this year but it's slated for 2016 and I can hardly wait!

All in all? It's been a great year. There was loss along the way. Trying times. Heartache. But from those things we can decide to rise from the ashes like a majestic phoenix or we can wallow in self-pity and prolong it.

I'm a PHOENIX, bay-bee! How about you?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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