[Blogging] Soul Searching

Sh*t's about to get real up in here.

Many of you know that I've always had a love-hate relationship with style blogging. I worry that it can be narcissistic. I worry I have nothing to offer. I worry that the idea of lil ol' me being a style blogger is downright ridiculous. I spent my whole life trying to be as stylish as some of the women I've surrounded myself with over the years, and I can't imagine that I've learned enough to warrant style blogging.

These thoughts come to the forefront now and then and I've always been able to stuff them back down. But over the last month or two, I've really been thinking: why am I doing this? And here's what I came up with:

• Because I love to write. If I wasn't writing about clothes I'd be writing about something else.
• Because I aspire to be stylish every time I step out of the house, no matter where I'm going.
• Because I'm learning about style each and every day through this awesome community of bloggers.
• Because seeing photos of my outfits helps me to realize what works and what doesn't. And there's still a lot of doesn't!
• Because some days, I just don't feel like putting myself together and this blog makes me accountable.
• Because I am scared to death that once I have children I'll become that blob of a mom who never wears anything but yoga pants and sweatshirts. Having a blog will keep me accountable then, too!

I think the biggest disconnect here that has been causing me to continually question my blogging is that I don't really feel I'm giving anything to the blogging community. I'm no Blair or Aimee or Jessica, nor am I even in the same universe as those fabulously stylish women. 

So I've thought and thought and thought about it and am going to start some new things this blog. I don't think it's necessary to go into the details of exactly how it's changing or what I'll be doing - you'll see it soon enough. And it will still allow me to reap the benefits I listed above, and it will still be about fashion, but I will hopefully be posting content that's useful for others and informative. 

I've made it my goal to make this blog not just a series of pictures of what I'm wearing, but to write posts with accompanying outfits that readers can take something from. This blog is doing a sucky job of that as it stands right now and I've finally figured out how I'm going to do that. I'm super excited to share my new ideas with you!! It'll take a few weeks to get moving, since I have the next two week's worth of posts already scheduled (I can't even believe that!) - but it'll start soon enough!

[Blogging] 3 Posts in ONE Day!!

I will make this quick, I promise - ya'll might notice on this post and my previous post there is a new commenting system! I wanted to try this for a few reasons - 1, to make it easier to reply by asking commenters for an email address and 2, so that ya'll can link up your most recent blog post in your comment!

If you really don't like it, please let me know - I obviously care most about what you think. I really wanted to be able to send replies via email because I was never sure if anyone was coming back and seeing my replies to their comments. And now you can plug your latest post! Whoop!!

Ok. I'm done for today. I swear.

PS. I added an FAQ page to my tabs at the top. There isn't but one question in there because I haven't been asked any yet....but feel free to ask away if you have a burning question! I'm an open book (mostly). :)

[Blogging] No-Reply Blogger

There have been a lot of posts in the blogosphere lately that fall under one of these categories:

1. What I hate about blogging (Disguised as "How to be a Better Blogger" post)
2. What I hate about commenters/readers/etc (Also disguised as the "How to be a Better Blogger/Reader" post)
3. What I hate about other bloggers (Disguised as discussions about "Blog Snobs")

I'm kind of getting tired of reading about it. But I am not going to add to the negativity by whining about it. (Hollie at Hollie Takes Notes also was discussing the issue of blogger whining here - it's a good read!) Can't we all just get along and ignore the blogs that irk us?

Anyway. Let's get to the point.

There are a lot of posts out there lamenting the "No Reply Blogger". What, you ask, is the no-reply blogger? Well, on many blogs, when you comment, the blogger gets an email saying you commented and showing the content in your comment.  Most of you are probably saying "duh" (do people still say that or am I regressing to the 90s?) because you're bloggers, too, and you get these emails. They are awesome, because we don't have to keep going back to our blogs, right?

But when that email comes, it will come from an email address...and sometimes the email address is noreply-comment@blogger.com aka "No Reply Blogger". Often, bloggers would love to just email you a reply. If you have an email address on your comment, it can be done. If you don't, we have to go back to the blog to comment.

This is what a noreply blogger email looks like!

Now, let it be known I'm not whining about noreply-blogger. I don't really care. I mean, it's easier if you have an email, but if you don't I don't get all bent out of shape about it. Whatevs. I will always try and go to my blog to reply if I can't reply via email. However, I'm never sure if anyone actually sees that I reply or comes back to check, so there's that.

What I'm really writing about here is how to fix noreply-blogger if you so choose. I'm not asking you to or anything, but I know when I wanted to change mine I couldn't figure out how in the world to do it. Friends, I am here to help!

All other posts on how to do this, that I could find anyway, tell you how to do it from the original blogger dashboard. But what if you have the new blogger dashboard? Egads!! I thought this post might really help out some others who don't know how to change it. I spent weeks trying to figure it out.

NOTE: If you have linked blogger to Google+, these directions will not apply. I have never linked my blog to Google+ so I don't know how to do it if you have. I do know that if you've linked to Google+ in the last 30 days, you can switch back using the info found here: http://www.blogger.com/revert-profile.g ...Otherwise - I'm sorry, but this won't help!

Here is the part of the post where you all should be glad I was a technical writer, because hopefully these directions are clear, concise, and easy to follow.

You have to go back to the old blogger dashboard. This is the biggest problem with every other "how to get rid of no-reply blogger" post that's out there. They don't tell you to do this if you have new blogger dashboard!!!

1.

Go to the gear at the top right of your blogger dashboard.

2.

Select Old Blogger Interface.

3.

Select Edit Profile when the old dashboard appears.

4.

Make sure "Show my email address" is checked. The email that is set will be to the right of the setting. To change it, go to Identity and type in email address.

5. Hit Save. This takes you back to the old blogger dashboard.

6. Select "Upgrade Now" from the link at the top of the page. There should be a displayed message about old blogger dashboard going away and would you like to upgrade? It's in there.

That's it! You're done!

There may be other ways to do this without going backwards (when old blogger goes away for good I have no idea how this will work), but this is the way I figured out. If you know of another way, please leave it in the comments!!

I know a big part of my problem is that my blogger is connected to my Google+. I'm curious if the issue and the solve is the same for those who don't have blogger connected to Google+.

Anyway....hope this helped!

[Blogging] Bauble Swap!

One of my favorite bloggers, Shanna (at Because Shanna Said So) is hosting a Bauble Swap. I think this is such a neat idea! Each blogger will be matched with another blogger, and they will have the opportunity to get to know them through their blog and then pick out a new or gently used bauble that they think their partner would like! Who doesn't love picking out the perfect gift or getting a surprise in the mail!? Check out the link below if you want to read more about it or participate!

[Blogging] Reader Appreciation!!

Ya'll, I'm so flattered!! I read a lot of blogs. A lot. Because I love seeing everyone in their fabulously styled frocks! And I often comment. But I was so flattered when Sunday I read my girl Molly's blog and she had given me a reader appreciation award!!!

The rules are simple:

• Tag the person who awarded you
• Post the award
• Share the love

This is such an awesome way to say "I appreciate you!" to you guys, the fabulous folks who make doing this whole bloggy thing worthwhile!! I would certainly give this award right back to Molly over at Still Being Molly because she's a fabulous reader herself. She's always positive, always commenting, and overall always making others feel good by her enthusiasm and friendship. So Molly - I'd give it right back to you!

But of course, I have other readers who I so, so appreciate - and now it's my turn to share the love. I would love to give this to all of my readers! There are few who really make a point to comment and support me in this blog, so I'm going to share the love here.

Without further ado, I am giving the Reader Appreciation Award to......

Diana at City and Burbs - Di is an active commenter who shares a lot of the same fashion views as me. She always has a positive note and her personality is awesome! Di, along with her sister, has an adorable blog showcasing their amazing style - go check it out!

Sharon at The Tiny Heart - Sharon has been one of my longest readers and she always, always has a positive and encouraging comment to leave! I adore her blog as well - she has a great sense of style and a great smile to match!

Shanna at Because Shanna Said So - Shanna is a recent follower and since we found each other's blogs, I've been enjoying hearing from her! Shanna makes it a point to really read what's in the post and make a thoughtful and kind comment. Her blog not only shares her fantastic style, but also captures bits of her daily life, which I love!

I also would like to mention a few others who may not be super frequent commenters but were some of my first readers, and who comment enough for me to see they've been long time readers and be ecstatic that they've stuck around. :) Giovanna from Olive and an Arrow, Mary Ann from The Dapper Bun, and Brooklyn Grace from 6 Pins in a Shoe - thank you!

All of you guys reading - you make being a blogger fun and exciting for me, and I appreciate every single person that takes the time to stop by and read my blog. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for making this blog such a fulfilling hobby for me!!

Yay!!

[Blogging] Ya'll, I Broke Down

I'm on Pinterest. UGH. Solely because a number of bloggers I've been talking to lately have said it's had a really positive effect on their blog. However. I am not going to allow myself to get all kinds of caught up in it.

I'm not happy about this.

But I'll do it.

Hmph.

[Blogging] Do It All?

Let's talk blogging, bloggers.

If you're not a blogger, you can still read this (though I promise I won't get mad if you don't), but since I know most of you are, let's talk!

Here's a question I have been wondering about after following many, many blogs for a few months now. Almost every single blog/blogger is linked up all over the place: facebook, twitter, pinterest (you won't ever see me there, though), chictopia, IFB, Go Chic or Go Home, bloglovin, better bloggers network, instagram, etc, etc, etc. HOW DO YOU DO IT ALL!?!

(This is my confused face)

I'm really trying to create good content here, and I have a lot of ideas, but I find that I'm at a loss as to what to put everywhere else. I don't want to repeat the same stuff, yet I am having a heck of a time being active in so many different places! Instagram is really the only one that, to me, lends itself well to new content. That may be because I used Instagram because I like it, not because people might want to see the pics. However, I'm not a big facebook person (I can hear the collective gasp that just happened) - although I used to be, but not much any more - and I've never really used my personal twitter account. Plus, all that other stuff I found in the blogging community that I feel like I should be active in seems as though it requires an excessive amount of time and creativity.

So, blogger universe, what are your secrets? What do you use and not use? How do you come up with unique content across the various mediums? What is your strategy?