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Third Place Is as Good as Winning

January 15, 2009 by WendyB

My peeps, I didn’t win, but I am feeling very good about coming in third in the Best Fashion Blog category in the 2008 Weblog Awards (I guess it’s as official as it’s going to be at this point). I am just a little personal blog, while the winner and the runner-up are big, high-traffic blogs. I think I made a pretty strong showing, considering! And it’s all due to you gorgeous bloggers, commenters, lurkers, clients, family members and friends who voted for me day after day. Thank you!

I wish I could send flowers to all of you.

There are some days when I wonder, “Why the hell do I have this blog?” And then I remember it’s because I’ve met all these awesome people — quite a few in person and the others just online. I really appreciate everyone who has been supportive of me since the July 2007 inception of this blog, whether you’ve commented, campaigned, purchased jewelry or merely created a shrine to Sam Waterston’s eyebrows in your home.

At this point, I feel I should start hyperventilating, crying and thanking my makeup artist until you all writhe with embarrassment. But why bother, when Kate Winslet already did it for me? Take it away, Kate!

Even if I hadn’t won the bronze medal for fashion blogging, the following email might have been reward enough. GeorgeB, aka Dad, campaigned furiously for me all over the world and got this reply from a friend in China:

George
Hi,I Have read your daughter ‘s blog,and voted for her twice.i really think her blog is very exllent,her smile is so sunshine. I told my colleagues about this story and let them voted for her,and send message to every friends whose telephone number stored in my sellphone ,but almost of them send back to me:’sory,i don’t know any English word,don’t how to do”HA HA,it’s very finy!! you are a very nice dad! i hope you tell your daughter ,the result is not important, we can enjoy the process, the more important thing is her votes ,some from china! she has fans in china!

When I read this, I felt like all was right in the world: I do have a very nice dad, my smile is so sunshine, I am enjoying the process and HELLO TO MY PEEPS IN CHINA!

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Filed Under: blogs and bloggers, Celebrities, gorgeous clients, gorgeous family, gorgeous friends, so sunshine

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Esther says

    January 15, 2009 at 2:45 pm

    Whooooo! I voted twice every day (from each of my computers).

    Anyway, I will be back to blogging eventually. I just need some time to clear my head. 🙂

  2. Shrimpton Couture says

    January 15, 2009 at 2:48 pm

    love that email 🙂

  3. tonyspunk says

    January 15, 2009 at 3:18 pm

    Congratulations, lovely lady, you deserved higher because you are foxy!

    Boy, I sound creepy huh.

  4. KD says

    January 15, 2009 at 3:26 pm

    Aww, that e-mail is cute. 🙂 Good job, WendyB!

  5. CDP says

    January 15, 2009 at 3:33 pm

    Congratulations! I would never have known about Coco OR Queen Min if not for you.

  6. Fashion_Loving_Stylist says

    January 15, 2009 at 3:42 pm

    I third up against those bigshots is FAB! Congrats. I’ll be in NY in April – We’ll have a drink to celebrate.

  7. Little Lj says

    January 15, 2009 at 3:49 pm

    I LOVE that, and aim to use it sometime this week: “Your smile is so sunshine”… so lovely!

    Congrats on coming third!!

  8. katrocket says

    January 15, 2009 at 4:05 pm

    That is the sweetest e-mail ever. I’m a little misty! We’re still proud of you Wendy – an awesome result for a little fish in the big pond, right?

    And I’m going to post a pic of my rack tomorrow on Rocketradio – just for you baby.

  9. Sarah-Rose & Craig says

    January 15, 2009 at 4:16 pm

    I alternated voting for you and for Winona (I’m Sorry! I was TORN!) and I feel like all is right with the world because I helped you two come third and fourth.
    That is so sunshine.

  10. TheSundayBest says

    January 15, 2009 at 4:21 pm

    Just have to say one more time – if you’re hosted by Celebuzz YOU ARE NOT A BLOG.

    Thank you.

  11. fashion herald says

    January 15, 2009 at 4:41 pm

    Voters in china, bravo! and you weren’t censored out, double bravo!

  12. Practically Perfect In Every Way says

    January 15, 2009 at 4:49 pm

    did she say “thank you for making me look …. um…. old”

    bawhahah!

  13. K.Line says

    January 15, 2009 at 4:58 pm

    I think it is beyond adorable that your father got his friends to vote for you! And you did awesomely – esp. given the big box competition.

  14. Alicia/InstantVintage says

    January 15, 2009 at 5:20 pm

    Great story. Your dad is adorable.

  15. lisa says

    January 15, 2009 at 5:26 pm

    Congrats on the 3rd place finish! And your smile is so totally sunshine–I couldn’t agree more with that statement. 🙂

  16. Shannon (A beautiful Dream) says

    January 15, 2009 at 5:47 pm

    Congrats!!
    You should so win the award for best campaigning and having the most Chinese fans 🙂

  17. Diabolina Da Fashionista says

    January 15, 2009 at 6:04 pm

    boo to third. you are number one with me. so much sunshine radiating out of your ass. makes my day every day.

    kiss,
    D

  18. Belle de Ville says

    January 15, 2009 at 6:50 pm

    Congrats on the Bronze!
    I did my best, short of having dead people vote for you.
    Now do I get a link on your blog roll?

  19. Naomi says

    January 15, 2009 at 6:51 pm

    Just wanted to say congratulations on your bronze medal!

  20. AsianCajuns says

    January 15, 2009 at 7:39 pm

    OMG, I’m part Chinese and none of my peeps have ever said my smile is so sunshine! I’m so jealous – bah!

  21. Isabel says

    January 15, 2009 at 7:42 pm

    Sweet, you have fans in China! That is awesome. Keep on keepin’ on, WendyB. You rule!

  22. Shelly's Style Shop says

    January 15, 2009 at 7:44 pm

    Congratulations! 😉

    Thanks for your sweet comment on my blog! Kiss + Hug For U, Shelly

  23. Shelly's Style Shop says

    January 15, 2009 at 7:44 pm

    Congratulations! 😉

    Thanks for your sweet comment on my blog! Kiss + Hug For U, Shelly

  24. Shelly's Style Shop says

    January 15, 2009 at 7:47 pm

    lol…I just realized why my comments were not showing up (you have to approve them first)? I thought I was going crazy.

    I think I commented the same thing to you over and over like too many times to count. Sorry about! Need to pay attention!

  25. Shelly's Style Shop says

    January 15, 2009 at 7:47 pm

    lol…I just realized why my comments were not showing up (you have to approve them first)? I thought I was going crazy.

    I think I commented the same thing to you over and over like too many times to count. Sorry about! Need to pay attention!

  26. WendyB says

    January 15, 2009 at 9:29 pm

    Esther, you better come back! Don’t worry, I won’t force you to dress like….well, I don’t have to name names.

    Shrimpton, it made my day.

    Tonyspunk, I love pervs. You’ve come to the right place. So to speak.

    KD, Thank you!

    CDP, And those are two invaluable things to know about.

    FLS, I would love to meet up. Awesome.

    Little LJ, best phrase evah.

    Katrocket, I was misty too! I’m a pretty proud guppie right now. Can’t wait to see the boobs.

    Sarah Rose, so basically we had a threesome?

    TSB, I’m going to let you be my spokesman on these things, so I can pretend I’m ladylike and polite.

    Fashion Herald, the censors must be sleeping on the job, because…hello!

    PPIEW, yep! Have you seen that movie?

    K.Line, thanks! Yeah, Dad was really working his contacts.

    Alicia, I think so too.

    Lisa, I think you’re so sunshine as well.

    Shannon, I don’t know if I was the best, but I might have done the most campaigning!

    Diabolina, and you are always an A++++ to me.

    Belle, Oops! I didn’t have you there already? Fixed!

    Naomi, thanks!

    AsianCajuns, well, *I* think you’re totally sunshine.

    Isabel, thanks!

    Shelly, hee! No problem. I deleted one duplicate. I didn’t moderate originally but then I was getting some annoying spammer who left shady-looking links.

  27. La Belette Rouge says

    January 15, 2009 at 9:33 pm

    Congratulations!!! I have to tell you that I don’t like those high volume blogs. I never visit them. I never will. Not my cup o’ tea, noodles or coffee. I love you, your blog, your smile, your dogs, your fish feet, your butt bows, your jewelry and many other things.

  28. LENORENEVERMORE says

    January 15, 2009 at 9:44 pm

    third is better than fourth non…I think you are still amazingly fabulousss!

  29. BeckEye says

    January 15, 2009 at 9:50 pm

    Congrats on your bronze! Is bronze in or out? I think you should bring it back this season. No one wears bronze anymore.

    Third place is better than winning, because now you won’t have your life taken over by Clive Davis.

    Umm…I may be thinking of something else.

  30. Lynette says

    January 15, 2009 at 10:30 pm

    Three is one of my favorite numbers!

    Any time you want to come play board games, honey, with Mama and me, you come right on over. We’ll get situated at the table and have an ever lovin’ blast!

  31. Girl Japan says

    January 16, 2009 at 12:42 am

    I visit blogs not for their traffic but presence, writing, so I second the OP comment.. Congrats on third, it is well deserved, and although I am new to your blog I love you already for pointing me towards D. Brooks..

  32. Swell Vintage - Frankie says

    January 16, 2009 at 3:25 am

    Your blog is awesome, Wendy – you don’t need an award to confirm that! It is the sunshine in my life. Keep up the amazing work, lovely lady x

  33. miss cavendish says

    January 16, 2009 at 4:28 am

    That’s really great. And to place higher than the Manolo is something, as well, I think . . .

  34. enc says

    January 16, 2009 at 8:03 am

    Your smile

    IS

    sunshine.

  35. Jill says

    January 16, 2009 at 8:16 am

    Wow…that definately makes it all worth while doesn’t it?!

    And I’m with Beckeye…I love bronze…and copper.

  36. Sal says

    January 16, 2009 at 9:03 am

    Not too shabby, lady! All that hard work browbeating … I mean campaigning paid off. 😉

  37. Nina (femme rationale) says

    January 16, 2009 at 12:27 pm

    i admit, i voted more than once for you, too. top 3 ain’t too shabby!

  38. GeorgeB says

    January 16, 2009 at 1:48 pm

    I thought I would tell your peeps about Mike. I met Mike on a cruise down the Yangtze River in June 2006. He is a very pleasant person and he told me about his family and goals. He has 2 children – a daughter about 13 and a son about 7. His wife was a school teacher but lost her job when the second child was born. His goals include building a house with enough room for his parent who currently live in a small village about 3 hours away. In his New Year email he wrote that the house has been built. We had a great time in China and Mike was a big part of it.

  39. L says

    January 16, 2009 at 9:34 pm

    I think we all know that you are the REAL Winner here! I mean, come on what a great Dad…AND your rings were in W…can the competition say that? I think not.

  40. Songy says

    January 17, 2009 at 6:28 pm

    Well done, WendyB!

    I’m amazed by the comment left by your dad. It’s fantastic that someone in China is reading this space.. Internet after all!?

    Sad to know what she lost her job because she had a second child. Are they still enforcing one child policy over there!? Kerazy

  41. Alya says

    January 18, 2009 at 4:02 pm

    Dont forget about your peeps in Kuwait!

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MEET WENDY BRANDES

Award-winning designer of fine jewelry inspired by women's history and pop culture. A former journalist who writes about jewelry, fashion, medieval history, news, feminism, dogs, cats and whatever else is on her mind. Blogging since 2007.
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