Me, in my natural blogging state, dressed in yellow track pants, a blankie and begging a kitty to join me..
I can't believe it's almost been a year since I started blogging. Before I decided to start a fashion blog, I did two things. I borrowed the book 'Blogging for Dummies' from the library and I committed to myself that if I did start a blog, I would do it for at least a year and post consistently like fibre. I'm going to go ahead and give myself a gold star right now. I would love to post more but with the exception of spotty Internet connections in Europe, I did manage to post very consistently.
Now that it's been a year, I really wanted to do a post regarding my experiences during the last year; good or bad. Most of the time, this blog has a frivolous tone, which suits me fine. I don't like to get too personal in this forum and I like to keep the focus on fashion. But to make this post honest, I do think I'm going to have to talk about those things I like to keep hidden; my feelings. I'm sorry if you came here for pictures, if you want to see something nice, check out this post from Rumi, who managed to make a F21 dress (one of the ones you pick up and laugh about, wondering if it's a shirt or dress and who the heck would wear that?) look, well, downright pretty. This may be a long post, so grab a snack...
A year of blogging; the good, the bad and the ugly.
The good!
1. It's no secret that one of the best things about fashion blogging is community. I had no idea at first that fashion bloggers were all inter-linked. I remember when Danielle from Fell 4 Fashion gave me my first fashion blogger comment on my blog. I probably threw a cat, I was so excited!Watch out world! Danielle knows me!!! And now, I've got this whole group of people I've never met but I would call friends. I've got my blogging bosom buddies, my thrifting soul sisters, and my witty-comment exchanging wise-asses! In a non-creepy way, I love you guys...
2. I fell back in love with thrifting. Buying second hand clothes was never a big deal for me, actually it was a way of life. Being in a big family on a tight budget meant that I grew up with thrifted clothes. This last year I started to thrift more often again and I'm too good at it. In fact, yesterday at the Talize 50% off sale (that had been picked over... no good purses left), I found 5 dresses, 2 skirts, a shirt, a shirt for Matt and a skirt each for my friend and her two daughters (to ease the guilt of my excessiveness) for $55.
3. I am having too much fun dressing up. I've always loved fashion and clothes but I was afraid to get 'too crazy'. Now, as long as I feel comfortable and like myself, I get crazy. No longer afraid to try new things, dressing up has become about endless opportunities instead of trying to tame the clothing beast that lives within (her name is Zelda and she survives off Diet Coke and peanut butter and crackers.)
4. I'm writing regularly again. It's nice to be writing more than just your name on credit card receipts...
5. I always knew Matt was patient and kind but he has shown that in so many ways by putting up with my blogging and being my picture taker. I love him so much, that for Valentine's Day, I'm going to give him a hug. Ok, for real... Matt you are my person and I love you.
The Bad
1. The amount of time I spend blogging is obscene. Between deciding what to wear, taking outfit pictures, writing posts, uploading picture properly and checking out all the lovely other blogs, I've got myself a part-time job which doesn't pay. I'm going to put a little blame on my computer which is hating me and decides to be very slow at uploading pages, but the bulk of the blame lies with me and the way that blogging can take over my life. Thankfully, Matt has the patience of a saint and in the winter I do have more free time but I can't continue on like this. There needs to be more balance. I basically need a faster computer. Haha, that is not a good solution... You know in elementary school you get a grade for 'using time wisely'? I think I'm failing... how do you guys balance it?
2. I'm spending more money on clothes. No, I'm not jumping on the name brand train and trying to buy myself fabulousness with a pair of Gucci sunglasses... My shopping habits are the same as they ever were, scoping out thrift stores and clearance racks armed with pepper spray, they've just increased in number. As nice as it is to have this confidence to wear whatever I want, when I want, it has opened up the shopping possibilities too much. Before I would leave behind that wicked but impossible dress; now the same dress is a possibility and I buy it. In the last year my closet has expanded by 1.5 rolling racks and a new cupboard. This is not sustainable for a landscaper like me, who does spend most of her time in shorts and steel-toes... I need to curb it (not fun to write that down) or find a way to turn my passion for clothing into something legitimate. That said, the 5 dresses I bought yesterday, I would have been crazy to leave them behind... sigh, I have a sickness, don't I?
The Ugly
1. I want to leave it at that... just the good and the bad but that's not fair. The ugly side of fashion blogging is a side effect I had not expected at all. Jealousy. I don't want to write it down and I don't want to admit to it but it plagues me. That stupid 'Blogging for Dummies' book obviously forgot one chapter, 'I'm a decent-ish person, why do I feel like a jealous b!tch?'. I'm not talking about jealousy over clothing or body-types, I'm talking about blog-induced jealousy. I never expected when I started my blog that my moods would be so affected by the numbers in blogging... How many followers do I have? How many comments? That's not even so bad... in truth, I am so thankful for every follower and your comments mean the world. I remember once that I just couldn't post about fashion and I wrote a rather reflective post... I was blown away by your comments, your understanding and encouragement. When I look at how far my blog has come in a year, I'm a happy camper (or blogger, as I don't really love camping...). The jealousy problem really arises when I look at the success of others. The devil in my head asks 'why does she have so many followers? why does she have that many comments? why was she featured in a magazine? why is she wearing polyester?'... it gets worse, 'she's selling out by joining Chictopia, by accepting advertising, by leaving 200 comments a day...'. Thankfully, there is a sensible side of me, that tells me to stop thinking horrible thoughts, to focus on what I'm doing and not put others down on the basis of their success. There is also a sensible Matt, who often reminds me of why I started blogging (to write and to dress) and how I'm accomplishing those goals. This jealousy does not invade all I do in blogging... when I comment 'I like your dress', chances are I like your dress and I like you.
Please don't think I'm a bad apple now, I just think it's time we talked openly about nature of numbers within blogging. You know what? If someone could chime in right now and say 'I know what you mean about jealousy', I'd feel a smiggen better.
I love fashion blogging and I love the people I've met. I don't love the green monster on my shoulder who makes me think mean thoughts. I hope that by exposing him, it's the first step to banishing him from my life (I hope he'll banish but if he doesn't, I hope he takes a long furlough far away). I want to re-iterate my goals for blogging... to write, meet new people and have fun in my wardrobe. I'm NOT looking to make this my full-time job. The best case scenario would be that someone reads this and decides I could write a good fashion column while landscaping or wants to sign me to write a novel. I've said before I'd be a wicked romance novelist ('her breath caught in her throat and she shuddered with desire as his lips crushed hers in an all encompassing kiss'... not bad?) and I think I could do chick-lit too (Kate decided that Tom looked like Jared Leto, cute but a little too old to be wearing eyeliner. She had better stop drinking martinis though because Tom might start to look like Jared Leto from his 'My So-Called Life' days, and then she'd be in trouble.)
Wow, this is the most exhausted I've ever been after writing a post, I feel pretty exposed. You're probably exhausted too after reading all this drivel... sorry. I am very curious to hear your input though...
Don't worry, tomorrow will mark a return to useless fashion broadcasting and hopefully a 'best of' series to come too... Once again, I know it can't be said often enough but thank-you for all your positive encouragement and for your readership over this last year!
xoixoxoiioxo (The 'i's' are gold stars. I want you to have them too...)
Now that it's been a year, I really wanted to do a post regarding my experiences during the last year; good or bad. Most of the time, this blog has a frivolous tone, which suits me fine. I don't like to get too personal in this forum and I like to keep the focus on fashion. But to make this post honest, I do think I'm going to have to talk about those things I like to keep hidden; my feelings. I'm sorry if you came here for pictures, if you want to see something nice, check out this post from Rumi, who managed to make a F21 dress (one of the ones you pick up and laugh about, wondering if it's a shirt or dress and who the heck would wear that?) look, well, downright pretty. This may be a long post, so grab a snack...
A year of blogging; the good, the bad and the ugly.
The good!
1. It's no secret that one of the best things about fashion blogging is community. I had no idea at first that fashion bloggers were all inter-linked. I remember when Danielle from Fell 4 Fashion gave me my first fashion blogger comment on my blog. I probably threw a cat, I was so excited!Watch out world! Danielle knows me!!! And now, I've got this whole group of people I've never met but I would call friends. I've got my blogging bosom buddies, my thrifting soul sisters, and my witty-comment exchanging wise-asses! In a non-creepy way, I love you guys...
2. I fell back in love with thrifting. Buying second hand clothes was never a big deal for me, actually it was a way of life. Being in a big family on a tight budget meant that I grew up with thrifted clothes. This last year I started to thrift more often again and I'm too good at it. In fact, yesterday at the Talize 50% off sale (that had been picked over... no good purses left), I found 5 dresses, 2 skirts, a shirt, a shirt for Matt and a skirt each for my friend and her two daughters (to ease the guilt of my excessiveness) for $55.
3. I am having too much fun dressing up. I've always loved fashion and clothes but I was afraid to get 'too crazy'. Now, as long as I feel comfortable and like myself, I get crazy. No longer afraid to try new things, dressing up has become about endless opportunities instead of trying to tame the clothing beast that lives within (her name is Zelda and she survives off Diet Coke and peanut butter and crackers.)
4. I'm writing regularly again. It's nice to be writing more than just your name on credit card receipts...
5. I always knew Matt was patient and kind but he has shown that in so many ways by putting up with my blogging and being my picture taker. I love him so much, that for Valentine's Day, I'm going to give him a hug. Ok, for real... Matt you are my person and I love you.
The Bad
1. The amount of time I spend blogging is obscene. Between deciding what to wear, taking outfit pictures, writing posts, uploading picture properly and checking out all the lovely other blogs, I've got myself a part-time job which doesn't pay. I'm going to put a little blame on my computer which is hating me and decides to be very slow at uploading pages, but the bulk of the blame lies with me and the way that blogging can take over my life. Thankfully, Matt has the patience of a saint and in the winter I do have more free time but I can't continue on like this. There needs to be more balance. I basically need a faster computer. Haha, that is not a good solution... You know in elementary school you get a grade for 'using time wisely'? I think I'm failing... how do you guys balance it?
2. I'm spending more money on clothes. No, I'm not jumping on the name brand train and trying to buy myself fabulousness with a pair of Gucci sunglasses... My shopping habits are the same as they ever were, scoping out thrift stores and clearance racks armed with pepper spray, they've just increased in number. As nice as it is to have this confidence to wear whatever I want, when I want, it has opened up the shopping possibilities too much. Before I would leave behind that wicked but impossible dress; now the same dress is a possibility and I buy it. In the last year my closet has expanded by 1.5 rolling racks and a new cupboard. This is not sustainable for a landscaper like me, who does spend most of her time in shorts and steel-toes... I need to curb it (not fun to write that down) or find a way to turn my passion for clothing into something legitimate. That said, the 5 dresses I bought yesterday, I would have been crazy to leave them behind... sigh, I have a sickness, don't I?
The Ugly
1. I want to leave it at that... just the good and the bad but that's not fair. The ugly side of fashion blogging is a side effect I had not expected at all. Jealousy. I don't want to write it down and I don't want to admit to it but it plagues me. That stupid 'Blogging for Dummies' book obviously forgot one chapter, 'I'm a decent-ish person, why do I feel like a jealous b!tch?'. I'm not talking about jealousy over clothing or body-types, I'm talking about blog-induced jealousy. I never expected when I started my blog that my moods would be so affected by the numbers in blogging... How many followers do I have? How many comments? That's not even so bad... in truth, I am so thankful for every follower and your comments mean the world. I remember once that I just couldn't post about fashion and I wrote a rather reflective post... I was blown away by your comments, your understanding and encouragement. When I look at how far my blog has come in a year, I'm a happy camper (or blogger, as I don't really love camping...). The jealousy problem really arises when I look at the success of others. The devil in my head asks 'why does she have so many followers? why does she have that many comments? why was she featured in a magazine? why is she wearing polyester?'... it gets worse, 'she's selling out by joining Chictopia, by accepting advertising, by leaving 200 comments a day...'. Thankfully, there is a sensible side of me, that tells me to stop thinking horrible thoughts, to focus on what I'm doing and not put others down on the basis of their success. There is also a sensible Matt, who often reminds me of why I started blogging (to write and to dress) and how I'm accomplishing those goals. This jealousy does not invade all I do in blogging... when I comment 'I like your dress', chances are I like your dress and I like you.
Please don't think I'm a bad apple now, I just think it's time we talked openly about nature of numbers within blogging. You know what? If someone could chime in right now and say 'I know what you mean about jealousy', I'd feel a smiggen better.
I love fashion blogging and I love the people I've met. I don't love the green monster on my shoulder who makes me think mean thoughts. I hope that by exposing him, it's the first step to banishing him from my life (I hope he'll banish but if he doesn't, I hope he takes a long furlough far away). I want to re-iterate my goals for blogging... to write, meet new people and have fun in my wardrobe. I'm NOT looking to make this my full-time job. The best case scenario would be that someone reads this and decides I could write a good fashion column while landscaping or wants to sign me to write a novel. I've said before I'd be a wicked romance novelist ('her breath caught in her throat and she shuddered with desire as his lips crushed hers in an all encompassing kiss'... not bad?) and I think I could do chick-lit too (Kate decided that Tom looked like Jared Leto, cute but a little too old to be wearing eyeliner. She had better stop drinking martinis though because Tom might start to look like Jared Leto from his 'My So-Called Life' days, and then she'd be in trouble.)
Wow, this is the most exhausted I've ever been after writing a post, I feel pretty exposed. You're probably exhausted too after reading all this drivel... sorry. I am very curious to hear your input though...
Don't worry, tomorrow will mark a return to useless fashion broadcasting and hopefully a 'best of' series to come too... Once again, I know it can't be said often enough but thank-you for all your positive encouragement and for your readership over this last year!
xoixoxoiioxo (The 'i's' are gold stars. I want you to have them too...)
Jentine
