Eight years ago, I was a college student who’s always in front of a computer. Well, given that I’m an Information Technology student, but I was always online even during my leisure time. It’s either I’m playing some video games, scrolling through tumblr.com pages, weheartit.com feed, or streaming anime. I love reading blogs and watching videos that are mostly style or kawaii culture related. Thus, here began my story on how I started blogging.
While I was just checking my WordPress account, I received a notification that it was actually my anniversary in the blogging world. Yes, I started my blog in wordpress.com. It was named sweetroxieee.wordpress.com. You can access it. The blog is still up but it is already empty as I transferred some of it here and deleted some. I chose to start with wordpress.com because it was free and I just want to document my life before. It served as my online dairy.
Upon reading the notification, my mind suddenly traveled back in time. I didn’t know that it was eight years already. I was intrigued what were my first few posts back then as they were quite blurry for me to remember. So, I opened my wordpress.com account and found that I already deleted all of my post back then. I felt a little disappointed as I was expecting to trace it. Then, as I don’t want to give up, I checked my media library if were still some photos left there. And behold, I was right. I found my photos way back 2012.
Let’s take a trip down to memory lane!
PS: A little disclaimer, some photos you’ll see below are old and it may give you some cringes or something like that. haha! So, I’d like to say sorry in advance. I found myself laughing at myself also seeing these old photos. I don’t own any professional camera before, so I just use my VGA camera phone. The only chance for me to get a high quality photo is when my friends gives me a copy from their DSLR cameras. A big shoutout to my college friends. I’m thankful for them because they were supportive. Okay, let’s proceed to my early days of blogging.
So here are my old blog posts is all about:
♡ Hi, I’m Roxanne ♡
Let’s meet Roxanne eight years ago. This was actually my first photo in my first ever blog post. I was literally a Photoshop newbie here. Haha! Since I wanted to introduce myself online, I was aiming for a photo with a background of my different nicknames using some cute fonts and symbols. I remember how this photo took so much time because I was searching those fonts online.
Actually, this was a project of one of my I.T. class in college. We were tasked to create a wordpress.com blog and our teacher wanted to explore it. I was really excited about it since the reason why I chose my course in the first place was my interest in HTML and creating websites. And because of that, it led me to creating my own blog and decided to make it as my online diary.
♡ My life as a student ♡
My second blog entry was about my life as a student and everything in between. I was kinda sad that day, that’s why I decided just to write my feelings. Yes, this was post made me cringe a bit. But it somehow reminded me that blogging serves as my escape from the real world. I got so many troubles before but I’m too timid to talk about with my friends and I was not that close with my parents as well.
♡ My D.I.Y. Bracelet ♡
Wow, Roxanne 2012 was really consistent in writing her blogs. Aside some personal stories, I posted about my D.I.Y. bracelet. I was really into DIYs before as I was still a student and I can’t afford buying things. That’s why I chose to make my own accessories and this one was my attempt in making one.
♡ My love for high heels ♡
Haha! As a petite girl, I definitely wore heels all the time. In this post, I shared my favorite heels and talked about how I frequently used them especially the pink and yellow one. I love platform wedge heels as it was more comfortable to walk with it. I can even run and go up to the seventh floor through our college’s spiral staircase whenever I’m already late for my class. Sadly, these shoes are nowhere to be found anymore now. All of them retired already. Obviously, I wore them too much that time.
♡ My love for dressing up ♡
My mom has a big part of my love for dressing up as she literally dressed me up even when I was still a kid. Just a quick background who doesn’t know about me, our family business is a dress shop. It’s more focus on the uniform category side. But my mom loves to make some clothes for me especially during special occasions, thus these were my outfits during my past birthdays, school presentations, my JS Prom, my debut, and other formal parties.
♡ My love for cute and kawaii things ♡
As I’ve mentioned before, I really do love cute things and mostly I find them online. You know too much internet. haha! So I do sometimes blog about them. I drew some of them and made it as a designs for my notebooks. Even before, I was already into it. It’s just nice to see this old drawings. Am I too childish? haha!
♡ My first ever mood board ♡
So, one of our classes had a project about creating a mood board for your future career or business. And as you can see the mood board contains some photos of Tricia Gosingtian (one of my Fashion Blogger Inspiration), some style and beauty related items. In this activity, I realized that I really wanted to proceed my hobby in blogging. Even if it was only an online journal before, I was starting to think about turning it into a real thing. I was full hopes and dreams back then. I’m not that sure yet but it was one of my aspirations in life.
♡ My life as a student leader ♡
I may be a petite and small girl, but I was a student leader. You can look at that first picture and see how tiny I am. But in these two photos, I’ve come to realize that even a shy and timid girl like me, I was actually speaking in front of our college department (But I was really shaking that time. haha!). I was the external vice-president in our division during my senior year. And because of it, I wrote about my experiences during that opportunity and how it boosted my confidence way back then.
But sadly, after 2012, I stopped writing in my blog. I was so busy back then as I was graduating in college. Also after that, I proceeded to fashion school in Manila. Then adult life was starting to happen and I’ve forgotten about my blog. Well, not until when I went back to my hometown, Davao City in 2015.
♡ The Comeback ♡
After 2 years, I went back home and again decided to continue on with my blog. But, as I was reading on my past blog posts, I’ve realized that I wanted to make it real already. So, I created a new self-hosted blog and bought my current domain which is roxannelacap.com. Since I was earning a bit already, I’ve decided to just invest a website and maybe this would be an another avenue for me to explore my hobby more. In 2015, roxannelacap.com was live.
♡ My first “event” ♡
I called it as my first “event” because actually this was an open event. Apartment Eight is a fashion brand that I’ve been following and I’m a big fan of their clothing line. And when they’ve announced through Instagram that they’ll be opening a branch here in Davao, I was so excited! Then I saw a post from them that they’re welcoming home-grown bloggers to their opening day. I actually didn’t received a personal invite that time, but I’ve decided to just go and observe. So, the day came and I was nervous. I came to the store and just observed from the distance. Minutes later, someone approached me and ask if I were a blogger (maybe they’ve just assumed it as I was carrying a camera back then). So, I just nod slowly as I was really not sure what to answer. And then she just welcomed me in to the store and told me not to be shy. Awee, little Roxanne. haha! You can see more photos about the event here.
This was also the time where I met my dear friend, Claudine Chua. In this event, she invited me to join a blogger group in Davao City which had a big impact in my life now, which is the Davao Bloggers Society. Then in 2016, I finally joined DBS and the rest is history!
♡ My small wins ♡
My blogging gigs went on slowly after I’ve joined Davao Bloggers Society. From 2016 until now, I’ve met many people such as other bloggers all over the Philippines, some brand representatives, and other personalities. I’ve attended countless events and also got an opportunity to travel for an event. Also, I’ve worked with different brands and collaborated some projects with them. I may be not earning that big and I’m not famous (well, people nowadays tend to associated bloggers as insta famous people but yeah it’s different), still these small wins of mine brings back so much joy as I’ve totally seen myself grow as a blogger little by little.
♡ My awards ♡
In 2018, I was nominated in 4 major and 2 minor categories during the Davao Blog Awards. And I won 3 awards which was the Social Media Authority, Best Blog Design, and Best Food Blogpost award. While in 2019, I was nominated 3 awards and won 1 for my 2nd consecutive win which was the Favorite Social Media Authority.
I’m forever thankful to Davao Bloggers Society as this group really helped me developed my skills not only in photography, video editing, blogging but also in terms of self-growth, self-confidence and just to the best version of myself. I know I’m far from those famous bloggers that we look up to and I’m not earning big, but maybe someday this would be a career option for me if opportunity will come. But as long as I’m doing what I love to do, I’m fine with it. Also, this just gave me more motivation to pursue my dream. Thus, here I am, still in the process in learning more things as much as I could because technically I’m still in my 4th year as a blogger of roxannelacap.com. (The other 4 years was just a trial period for me.)
Now, I’m currently the president of the Davao Blogger Society. What a little president I must say. Haha! Also, I’ve realized that I’ve come a long way but still this is just the beginning. And I’ll continue to work hard for this passion of mine.
♡ So, what made me decide to make a blog? ♡
At first, I created my blog by using the free option which is wordpress.com and thinking that it will be my online diary. Then it grew with an idea that it would be avenue and my platform where I could share my ideas and express myself more. I also want to inspire other petite girls like me that they should not be insecure about their height and just do whatever they want to do.
♡ How to start a blog? ♡
You don’t need to be an I.T. graduate to create a blog. There are numerous tutorials online that you can look up to. The best option is to start it with worpdress.com as it is free and the interface is easy to understand. Sometimes, I know you’re overthinking and worrying about it too much. You only need to start moving and research about it. If I can do it, then you can do it too! I hope you’ve learned something from this blogpost and had fun looking at my past photos. Till next time! ♡
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