Wednesday, September 5, 2018

5 Years and 500 Posts!


Dear friends and readers, join me in the celebration of 5 years and 500 posts of In The Writer's Closet! Some time back in the Spring, I noticed that I was getting pretty close to the big round number of 500. That presented an interesting opportunity and challenge to write the exact amount of posts to sort of happily coincide with my 5th year blog anniversary. But then I realized that to me, it would feel too restrictive to try to fit in a certain number of posts... What if I would not feel like posting so often? Or, the opposite of that, what if I would had so much to share that I arrived at the 500th post too early? So after questioning myself like that and not having any answers, as I don't possess a crystal ball, I decided to let go of this intriguing idea and simply allow things unfold naturally. If it happened organically, then so be it, and if not, then oh well, it wouldn't be the end of the world. And so I forgot about the idea. But some time in mid August, I realized that I am indeed arriving at the number 500 without any special efforts, and more than that - even though the actual date of my first post was September 9, I can choose to celebrate on the 5th as well, so here I am, 
5 years, 500 posts on the 5th! 
FIREWORKS!!!



The weather is still very summery, but evenings cooled down notably, so when we bought tickets to a comedy performance by the local improv group Fools Play in Tacoma, this dress got my full attention. It seems a perfect fit for the occasion, as it reminds me to stay lighthearted and be a fool when it comes to creativity - don't ever start feeling like "I know it all" and can predict and deliver a result that I planned well in advance. Rather, play! Play as if it is your first day on the planet earth! As if you never know what's around the corner. Follow the first rule of improv - say YES! Yes to life, yes to your playmates, yes to your imagination! Stay open and naive as only kids and fools can be! Say 
"YES, AND..." 



So I say YES to my wardrobe! I'm happy to report that there is NOTHING new in this outfit, and you've seen all its parts previously, in different combinations. I love finding new friends (new treasures), but I also love creating new combinations with what I already own, and I am thankful to those of you who remind us all frequently that the true creativity lies in finding new ways of THINKING, not BUYING - and it is in combining old pieces that we own for years. To continue the analogy with playing, it would be like finding new ways of having good times with old friends vs. discarding all the old friends and constantly look for new ones. In fact, both new and old friends can be great, and I want to stay open to meeting new friends, as well as having fun with my old dear ones, and continue finding fresh opportunities for the existing relationships that I cherish.


Here is where you can find all these playmates in previous posts:
dress - SEPTEMBER 2016 
(as it often happens, I find that I am intuitively drawn to the same pieces on the same dates!)
cardigan - APRIL 2017, JUNE 2015, MAY 2015 
earrings - MARCH 2018
purse and shoes - most recently in AUGUST 2018 and many more...


If you're interested to see my previous blog milestones, read how I celebrated
and I am happily re-reading those old posts with you! 
It seems that I skipped the 4th anniversary, but I put together perhaps the most unusual post right around the date of my last year's blog birthday HERE.

CHAMPAGNE!!!



Thank you, my friends and readers, for the most wonderful, filled with shared creativity and friendship 
5 years of life! Here is to many more fun, joyful, colorful years! 

CAKE TO EVERYONE!!!

Photo taken at Tacoma Art Museum (2014)

All photos by Justin  - THANK YOU!!!

Dress - Isabel Toledo for Lane Bryant (2015)
Ruana/cardigan - Chico's (2015)
Clutch and earrings - vintage (Goodwill, antique mall, 2017)
Shoes - Clarks (2017)
Sunglasses - Christian Siriano for Lane Bryant (2016)

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24 comments:

  1. ohhhh wonderful! Tusch, champagne, firework! I celebrate with you Nataila. You can be proud about 5 years and 500 posts. And about new wonderful combination with good old friends :) ( treasures)
    ❤️❤️❤️ much love and a very huuuuge hug, Tina

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  2. ohhh, happy blogoversary dear Natalia!! such a delightful party! champagne, cakes, lights and Fireworks!! mwhaah, so fabulous!
    I'm so happy to celebrate this with you!
    And you look really elegant in your black&white ensemble, lovely graphic prints working together with some fab accessories and lots of attitude!
    besos

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    1. And I am happy to celebrate with you, dearest Monica!
      Lots of love! and a little more champagne!

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  3. kawumm!!! confetti!!! crackers!! a brass orchestra playing salut!!!!!
    :-D
    congrats to 500 in 5 years!
    i´m happy that i found you - and that you´r still here in blogland. and do you look fab in the B&W pattern mix!! perfect!
    where is the cake????
    ;-D
    tons of hugs & much love! xxxxxx

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    1. There is some cake left just for you, sweet Beate! Come over!!!
      Lots of love and here's to more wonderfully playful yeas in Bloglandia!

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  4. Hohohoooo, what a dress and what a day - celebration of 5 years blogging. Great! Congrats to all 500 posts and all you did and do with your very personal creativity! I love the dress with the clutch and cardigan, you seem so full of joy and energy. Hugs, Sunni

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    1. Thank you, and welcome to the playground, dearest Sunni!

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  5. Congratulations! Your posts, all 500, make me smile. Lovely dress.

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  6. Congrats to 5 Years and 500 Posts, dearest Natalia! And congratulations to everything you have achieved during these 5 years. That was a lot! You look fabulous in your black and white look! (And I also like your on-the-road look from the previous post very much - I'm just too slow with my comments ;-))
    Hugs my dear,
    Traude

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    1. I appreciate that you stopped by, my dear Traude! I am so blessed sharing my creativity with such smart, kind, creative and full of life people like yourself! Hugs!

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  7. Thanks for the cake! Yum!
    Well done on keeping your playful edge after five years, in your writing and in your dress and I'm sure in real life.
    I agree that we need to be light hearted and treasure our life and our creations.
    Thanks for your joyful voice in the blogosphere. Sorry I am absent so often these days. But I do enjoy peeping through the curtains once in a while to see you all playing. It gives me a smile :-)
    Love you! Xo Jazzy Jack

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    1. Thank you for such a warmhearted and heartwarming comment, dearest Jack! It's been such a pleasure to get to know you and all the wonderful ladies - let's play! the world is our oyster!
      Love!

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  8. HAPPY BLOG-ANNIVERSARY NATALIA!!!
    xX
    Joi | www.inmyjoi.blogspot.com

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  9. Wszystkiego najlepszego i dalszego wspaniałego blogowania życzę:!!!!!!!!!bardzo się cieszę że trafiłam na Twojego bloga:))uwielbiam do Ciebie zaglądać i mimo że nie wszystko rozumiem o czym piszesz to z radością oglądam Twoje piękne stylizacje:))Pozdrawiam serdecznie:)))

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    1. You are always a very welcomed sight, dear Renia! I am also very happy to find your blog!

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  10. Heartiest congratulations on those 5 years and 500 posts Natalia. I have so enjoyed following you on your journey of both self and style discovery. Of course I just adore your black and white outfit. Here's to many more years of blogging and having fun with style. xxx

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    1. Thank you so much, my dear Jill! We both love black and white mixes, don't we? I am thrilled that we met in Bloglandia!

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  11. Congrats on five years blogging! Happy birthday and many many returns to your blog. So great that the anniversary conceited with your 500th post. It was meant to be, one could say. :) I do like your outfit, black and white is timeless...and the prints are amazing.

    I haven't been around social media lately, I've been sick so I might have missed some posts. Have a great weekend.

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    1. Thank you for your kind wishes, dear Ivana! Oh no, I am so sorry to hear that you've been sick! I noticed your absence, of course... Have a speedy recovery, my dear! Take a good care of yourself! Sending lots of love and warm hugs!

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  12. Congratulations on your 5th blogging anniversary, Natalia, and wow, 500 posts, that's quite impressive! Celebrating life, that's something I'll sign up for any time, and that of course includes embracing the contents of one's wardrobe! Love how you're playing around with black and white patterns here. Here's to many more years of blogging and friendship! I'm so glad that blogging brought us together! Lots of love and hugest of hugs xxx

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    1. Thank you, my dear Ann! The feeling is mutual - I am also very happy that blogging brought us together! Lots of love!

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