Long Time No See

Without getting too personal, it's been a rough year. But I was thinking to myself about things which bring me joy. Things that hold my interest. And one of those things is writing and more specifically, blogging. I miss it, even if it was on something that can be seen as frivolous like makeup. I don't want to make any promises regarding posting regularity, but I'm going to start blogging again, because, honesty, if it held my interest for nearly 5 years and I miss it, I should probably start doing it again.

xoxo JeweledThumb 

Want To Be On My Blogroll? (promote your blog, no strings)

Every few months, I try to check out my blogroll to see if there is anyone to remove or add, but with the enormous influx of beauty bloggers since I started back in 2009 (holy !@#$ has it been that long?!), I am not exactly aware of everyone and I've found that although the larger, more professional blogs get a lot of traffic, some of the newbies are lacking. So... if you've been blogging for 3 months or more and feel you stay ethical, please leave your link in the comments. I will take a look at your blog and if I like it and want to promote it, I will add it to my blogroll! Also, uh guys, no one has entered by Butter London giveaway, and you're technically required to do nothing to enter... so it's here if you are interested! Let me know if you run into any technical difficulties and I'll switch from the widget to something more user friendly, like a google docs survey; assuming they haven't removed it when they did the google+ overhaul.

Happy New Year!

Usually my husband will wake me up at 12am to wish me a Happy New Year and give me a kiss, but I may actually stay up till midnight tonight! Very exciting, I know. As you've already guessed, we're not doing anything.

I want to wish all of my lovely blog followers a happy New Year. 2010 was definitely the year of Jeweled Thumb. My resolution was to post everyday and though I didn't do that exactly, I did wind up with 388 posts in 2010. Thank you to everyone that reads this little blog, new readers as well as ones that have stuck by me since day 1. I appreciate you more than you will ever really know.

Here's to another great year of blogging!

If you'd like, please leave a comment telling me what you'd like to see here in 2011.

♥ ivy

Businesses & Social Networking Sites

The internet has drastically changed how we interact with each other. I remember when only a select few were able to access the "world wide web". I remember when my parents bought their first computer in the mid 90s and I played games that were pixels. My, how things have changed. The internet has also changed how businesses interact with their customers. Before interfaces like Twitter, Facebook and Blogger, many companies were impersonal conglomerates: now they have human faces. You, the consumer can now discuss lipstick with a VP and they'll actually listen and respond to your input. To get your voice heard, you don't have to incessantly press 0 on the company phone tree to finally talk to a "live person".

But just like the fear of consumers putting too much information out there (do you really want your employer seeing those photos from Mardi Gras?), some businesses aren't putting their best foot forward on the web. I have both been encouraged to buy from companies based on their interactions on these social networking sites and have been put off. It's a delicate balance. Sure, you want the customers to see the "real you", that you are accessible to them, that you feel and think the same things that they do. But in the end, you are running a business, and ultimately the customer is picky, easily offended and even sometimes a bitch. And whether or not you or anyone likes it, it's part of being a successful business. It's part of the "yes, m'am not a problem" when someone is cursing at you from the other end and it's part of not posting about that customer on Twitter or Facebook.

Although it would be easier for these companies to avoid social networking sites, it is essential for them to be involved, so they need to be careful about their approach to this new media.
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I've been thinking of posting this for quite a while but wanted to make sure this was a fair and impartial commentary. This is my first "editorial" post and I'll admit it's pretty nerve wrecking to post my opinions on here!

I'd like to thank DH for editing this for me.

An Update

One of my resolutions was posting on Jeweled Thumb everyday. Obviously I forgot about allergy season and the lengthy exams during the semester that I would have to deal with. This week is midterm week at JT Headquarters which means that I haven't done my nails in a week (they look awful) and I don't have a ton of time to think up awesome and witty posts for you guys. You don't think my posts are witty? OFF WITH YOUR RED HEAD! I also haven't gone to see Alice in Wonderland yet which I am dying to do.

Posts in the works:
- finally a NOTD
- a post about the new skin routine I've recently started (with mini reviews)
- a post (thanks to Jasmine) about a hair product I keep coming back to - though I didn't remember the name!
- any other deals that I think are awesome that present themselves

Thank you for your patience as it's taken me a bit to respond to comments (I do read them all - and they make me happy!).

What's going on in your worlds? In the beauty world?

You Know You're A Beauty Blogger If...

I was lying in bed thinking about Jeweled Thumb as I generally do when I can't fall asleep and I realized something. Beauty Bloggers are their own breed; a subset of the makeup addict. And while I was thinking and not going to bed like I should have been, I came up with a list.

You know you're a beauty blogger if:

• You stay up till all hours of the night thinking about your beauty blog; formatting, new posts, anything-
  
• When you're driving, taking a break at work or otherwise unoccupied you think about your blog
• You constantly update your DH or SO about your blog, what's going on in the blog world and how many followers you have - they don't quite get it and think you're loony but love you anyway, of course!
• When you go to a store for something boring like toilet paper, you invariably head off to the beauty aisle just to check for ""research"" and almost always buy something
• You buy something you don't need because you're totally going to review it on your blog and it's going to be awesome!
• You spend far too much time on the internet, reading other blogs, researching and coming up with witty things to say on your own
• Your digital camera memory stick is mostly filled with pictures of beauty products
• Sometimes your hand looked like a third grader attacked it with markers due to your swatching

Share your own!

Bloggy News

A few things:

- As I'm sure you guys can see (News above), I am planning another giveaway when/if I reach 50 followers. I'm super excited and really appreciate everyone of you that read this blog. I mean, I was super thrilled when I reached 10 followers; now that I'm at 37 I'm actually a bit shocked.

- In the same area, I have attempted to find and follow all of you guys that have beauty blogs. If I'm missed following-back anyone, please let me know (a link in the comments works). I always look for more blogs to read!

- A company approached me about putting an affiliate link on my site. I agreed. This is the 2nd company that has approached me. The first one I declined as it was basically a pay per post and I didn't see how the material would actually be useful for you. This new one basically asked if I would put a banner on my site (it's on the right and tiny). I think the deal is if you click through the banner and buy something, I get a small percentage of your purchase. I don't expect anyone to go ahead and do this, I just wanted to disclose.


That's all for now.

♥ jeweledthumb

So Long Farwell Ahbeitezang* Goodnight

I hate to go and leave this pretty sight...

Or, I'm leaving on a Jet Plane...
'cept I'll know when I'll be back again.

My husband makes fun of me mercilessly since I'm basically a human jute box. I have this "talent" to memorize songs and recall them just by someone saying a phrase from them - I still remember a song I sang in Middle School (I'm now 26 so that was quite a few years ago).

Anyway, it's true. DH and I are going down to Georgia to visit his parents. I adore them and desperately need the respite. I'll be back on Sunday.

I do have a post planned for my return. I happened to find the Wet N Wild holiday palettes in my local CVS today and of course I bought both of them. So, swatches and my thoughts on my grand return!

I hope (my US followers) have a great Thanksgiving!

* Disclosure: I had to google how to spell this.

Bloggy News

Well, Happy Birthday to me! DH let me sleep late even though I have to finish my silly graduate final case study. Don't forget that my first giveaway ends tonight! I got my birthday gift already. It is two books that I've been wanting - no makeup, which is fine, I get enough myself as is! Tonight my parents are treating DH and I to dinner at a Japanese Steakhouse (yum!) and then back to my parent's house for cake (super yum!). It was my Dad's Birthday yesterday so we are doing a joint celebration.

Oh, in actually blogging news, I've posted a picture of myself in my profile. I'm wearing my dear love *sniffsniff* Prescriptives custom matched foundation (slightly lighter and pinker than their lightest premixed shade).

Hope everyone has a great end to the weekend! I'll be back tomorrow posting the winner's name!

Bloggy Update

Ok, some blogging-related news.

I just wanted to let you know that I am definitely listening to your suggestions from my first giveaway and am in the process of compiling some future posts! I am not responding to individual posts in the comment section of the giveaway so it's not super hard to figure out the number of entries when it comes time to pick a winner (don't think I'm ignoring everyone!). So, thank you for all your suggestions and especially the birthday wishes!

I have also embarked upon twitter. I'm new and am always open to new followers/friends. So go ahead and add me and I'll add you back. You can read my latest tweets on the upper right hand side of the blog.

Blogging Community

I could just be oblivious since I'm rather new to the world of beauty blogging, but wouldn't it be great if there was some sort of message board for bloggers to ask questions and chat? If there is, feel free to share with me.

Oh and update on the Baby Friendly Makeup post. Said Mommy messaged me enthusiastically on facebook this morning and had already applied all the products and loves them (especially the Fresh Rose). Mission accomplished!

So Exciting I Speak Yiddish!

Oh my gosh guys, I am all verklempt! I can't believe there are 7 people following this blog now! I have a few posts in the works so I hope you find this blog informative & fun! I want to make it something worth reading.

Anyway, I'm planning on having a giveaway when I reach 10 followers, so stay tuned!

Blog Rolling

I know I'm not the only one that obsessively checks their blog roll. At any dull moment, you can see me checking who has updated, what new finds are out there, new reviews, etc. Why? Well, not only are the ladies on my blog roll amazing, but I make it a point to chose the ones that I actually enjoy reading, who are geniune and don't appear to be one long advertisement. And I tend to like dry, witty humor too.

Anyway, imagine my surprise when I find out that blogrolls don't actually update in real time! So I always check my dashboard to find the absolute latest updates.

The point of this entry is, who are your favorite bloggers? Ones I should absolutely read?

(maybe I'll finally get some more comments after the Hard Candy entry)

Breaking News

FTC says bloggers now need to disclose when they receive free products - Personally, I'm a-ok with this and will disclose when/if I receive free products

There.

Thoughts?