Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Day 311: Blog Love

On Day 311, I fell in love.

It's just at the beginning stages, but her name is Olivia and she is perfection.

Whoa, Whoa, Whoa, take it easy, pervs. Not like that. Sorry to disappoint, but that's not that kind of love I'm talking about here.

And to be honest, I'm not even sure it's love at all, but probably more like adoration, admiration and maybe even a little infatuation.

After 311 days of pouring myself into my very own, Day 311's thing I've never done before was to fall in love with someone else's blog.

Olivia Rae, or, http://www.olivia-rae.com/.

I know, lame post, and maybe you're right. I set out on Day 311 to turn Project 29 to 30, averaging at the time around 100 hits a day, into a money-making venture, by setting up AdSense for Blogspot.

Not surprising, just like when I try to install Google Analytics on Day 120, I was unsuccessful installing the application and when I realized I didn't know how to "disable the cookies," (WTF does that mean?), I instead spent time acquainting myself with the handful of people who had elected to "follow," Project 29 to 30.

My followers. My people.

That is how I found Olivia, who by my stroke of good luck, had decided to join the Project 29 to 30 crazy train weeks before. When I clicked on her profile, and then onto her blog, I was immediately mesmerized by an endless supply of beautiful photographs of everything from travel book-worthy landscapes to 5-Star restaurant-quality foods.

Olivia's blog, "everyday musings," is all about the things that she loves: cooking, traveling, living in Charleston, and being with her family and friends. She is effortlessly cool, naturally beautiful and appears to be a great cook; though seemingly far more elegant than I, she enjoys the same things that I do: warm sea breezes, Charleston sunsets and brownies of all varieties.

Oh yeah, and did I mention she makes cake stands, is the Food & Travel Editor for Southern Flourish magazine?

And she's a student at College of Charleston?

When I was in college, if I wasn't in class or sleeping, I wasn't doing terribly productive, wildly creative things. I was probably hanging out, or drinking keg beer, or thinking about what costume I was going to wear to my sorority's next social function.

Not Olivia. When she's not in class, probably studying something romantic and lovely, she's planning gorgeous vacations, baking scrumptious cakes, posing for the cover of magazines, or is just being awesome.

Creepy, right? All this talk about a girl I don't know?

Maybe, but I couldn't help but think, as I was brainstorming ways Olivia and I could hang out the next time I'm in Charleston (Does that make me a stalker?), that I had, in starting my own blog, joined a little subculture of people who like me, are sharing their lives with their friends, families, and in this case, perfect strangers. I liked the idea, as I became engaged with her life, that she had also been engaged by mine; and I wondered what I had said that amused or touched her enough to want to follow my journey. Completely obsessed I opted to "follow" her blog right back.

I strongly recommend you do the same.

Her photographs of the greatest city on earth are enough to warrant taking a look. But everyday musings also showcases Olivia's funny videos and all the brownie recipes you could ever need. She's wonderfully artistic and I get the sense she is wise beyond her 21 years. Plus, she's far more selective in her story-telling, and I mean that in the best way. She blogs the way that it's supposed to be done: in real time, with quick stories, and plenty of visual aides. No senseless rambling like mine.

I can't even blog correctly. Damn.

But Olivia can. And does.

13 comments:

  1. OMG, are you serious? This is the nicest/sweetest/most flattering thing I have ever read!! Can we please hang out next time you are in Charleston? I adore your blog too! It makes me laugh out loud on a regular basis. I don't even know what to say but thank you!!!!! xoxoxoxox

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  2. I got her thanks to Olivia's blog :)

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  3. i got here too via olivia's blog....i read a lot of blogs (ehhh probably too many) and hers is def. one of my top 3 favs. :) i am excited to read through your posts as well!

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  4. This is awesome. I love Olivia's blog, and now I love yours.

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  5. Have just stumbled across your blog (via Olivia's as well!) and I am so excited to read more! Gorgeous blog, thank's for the new reading/following material.

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  6. What great blogs! Hers and yours! :)

    Lauren
    www.laurensthoughts.com

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  7. Fabulous post, Olivia is a sweetheart and I adore her too!! :)

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  8. I often feel the same exact way about Olivia/her lovely blog. So glad she introduced me to yours!

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  9. Steph - I can attest - Olivia's awesome... small world indeed.

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  10. Wow, not the only who crossed over to here from Olivia's blog! I am always looking for new blogs to read (I'm pretty picky), but I had to come see what this is all about as I'm turning 30 soon too. I've read your archived posts from 1 to 19 so far and I so wish I would have found your blog earlier!

    There is in no way, a chance I could have pulled off what you have with trying something new everyday, but I would have tried some of the things you've done. What a great idea for a blog and celebrating the last year of your twenties. Do you plan to keep the blog up after you've turned 30? I hope you do because I love your writing style and your sense of self. I found myself agreeing with so much of what you have to say and or have wanted to say on my blog, but didn't have the right way to express it.

    Congrats on the blog, your new readers, and all the things you have accomplished over this year--just think about the great stories you will be able to tell your kids one day!

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  11. what a sweet post on olivia!!! and so true too. :)

    and you are hilarious so please don't stop your "ramblings," as you call them. i like them, and i think they should stay.

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  12. Wow, the Olivia effect is overwhelming! Thank you all for reading Project 29 to 30 and for commenting. Olivia rules and so do all of you.

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  13. yes yes yes, love her blog, and felt EXACTLY the same way (eerily stalkerish) but you put it into words perfectly! Now I am glad I found your blog!

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