April 22 marks the 2nd anniversary of Hip Austin Mom. It’s hard to believe that 2 years have gone by already. I learned a lot about the world of social media, facebook, twitter (it kind of bores me) and wordpress. It’s been fun and I’m really glad I did it. I don’t know why something like a blog would take an ounce of courage to start, but somehow putting things out there did take a bit for me. I’m not sure if I’m proud that so far, I’ve only managed to offend one person (that I know of) or if that means that I’m being too careful. I didn’t know if a blog was supposed to be an online diary like the most famous mom blogger, Dooce, which I thought was depressing, or an online place to visit for people who like Austin, like Austin Eavesdropper; or The Bloggness - much more my taste. I even considered something like an Austin Martha Stewart, who despite being thrown in the clink for insider trading and borderline crazy, still manages to capture my attention. Who else would plan her prison sentence around the Spring Growing Season? I admire such dedication to one’s passion. In the end, copying other people is boring, inauthentic, and just lame. And quite honestly, I’m too lazy to do it. The only blog I really visit is Hooked on Houses because it’s inspiring and I love looking at homes from movies. Despite being immensely popular, Julia managed to return my emails when I asked annoying questions like – what exactly is a blog and how did she get started.
Hip Austin Mom hasn’t turned out to be any of those. It’s kind of a place where I post things that I would find interesting, and actually I feel like I’ve been neglecting it lately, but I have several upcoming posts in the works that I hope make up for that, even if it’s just to myself. Hopefully no one else has noticed (and there I go telling on myself again).
The most important thing this blog has brought to me, is a way to meet people who I’m sure I would not have otherwise. I don’t know all of them on a personal level, but I’ve met them out and about, know their work, and have really loved having that opportunity. They are an inspiration. People like Tori Tinnon of Social Communications, William Jackson, publisher of InFluential Magazine, and Thea Wood, Austin’s Signature Stylist.
Hip Austin Mom has made me realize that I can do just about anything I want to (except take stock advice from Martha) and live to see a new day. It is true that taking risks is scary, but if you win a time or two, you realize that it’s worth it. Even if you lose, screw up, or look stupid, you learned something. And those lessons are valuable, even if you don’t see that when it happens.
As for me, I have in the past two years, sent 1 daughter off to college without any Prozac or trips to the therapist (but no judgement if you did – it’s a major life event!) made some pretty great changes in my life that I would like to take credit for, but can’t. They were bound to happen and I’m pretty happy with the way things have turned out. The most important change, or event, is that I’ve opened a small office in Westlake to do skin care – microcurrent, microderm, ultrasonic, facials and peels. I have 3 product lines that I carry and basically leave my house every morning with a big smile on my face because I get to play with beauty products all day and call it work. After years of watching my husband open and operate successful businesses I have learned a thing or two, and now I’m getting to use what I know to do something that I absolutely love.
If you’re in the Austin area, and want to check it out, please visit my website, Denise Bell Skin Care, and facebook page. I’ll be doing skin care posts out of that site soon, so be sure you subscribe. I’m still fine-tuning it all, and since I am a perfectionist it always makes things take longer than I plan, but when it comes to taking care of people’s skin, as Martha would say – it’s a good thing.
