Friend Friday: Blogging Events and Trends

1. With all the blogging events out there how do you determine which
ones to participate in and which ones to avoid? 
There are so many awesome events out there that don’t work for my lifestyle for one reason or another (mostly because I have to wear plain, dark colored clothes to interpret) and I don’t want to sign up for something and half-ass so I try to content myself looking at other people’s posts. The events that work best for me are the ones that are related to blogging itself (FBFF, IFB, Build a Better Blog). I think it’s about learning to be selective and honest with yourself and what you can and can’t do.
2. Be honest, have you ever jumped on the bandwagon of some blogging
movement/event for the wrong reasons? How did that turn out?
When I first started blogging I felt this dire need to build a following, so I did all the “follow me, I’ll follow back!” games so many new bloggers get caught up in. I ended up with an RSS feed full of blogs that weren’t even in English! Now I stick to following people I’m interested in, comment often, and trust that those who find my blog interesting will do the same for me. Karma is alive and well in the blogosphere!
3. How do you give your own flair to a blog event while still
maintaining the general mission and purpose?
I think I have a pretty unique, conversational writing style so that’s how I put my personal touch on everything I blog. I also use Polyvore to add extra details to images and make posts visually appealing (not the greatest option but it works until I can afford some image editing software for my Mac).
4. When determining the best content for your blog what criterion do
you keep in mind?
When I first started the blog, I had a very specific vision in mind. Lust, Love, Lose has grown and expanded since then but whenever I question if something is a good match, I go back and look at the vision statement I wrote back then.
5. While everything will not suit your blog, how do you try and
support your fellow bloggers who are participating in something
worthwhile but not your style?
I try to do blogger interviews with people who are participating in events that are worthwhile: not only does it (hopefully!) bring them some traffic and attention, but it might introduce the event to someone who would like to join. I also keep my blog roll up to date with great sites for my followers to read, and post about interesting events in the blogging community.

Want to join a blog event that doesn’t take much time and only one post? Check out 100 Words on Life!

Read the rest of the FBFFers responses at ModlyChic.

Love: 100 Words on Life

I’ve lived a very, very long time. At least it feels like it, though those with more than a quarter century under their belts might not agree with me. Be that as it may, I still feel as though I have something to contribute to the greater knowledge of fashion, confidence and life lessons. Here, my manifesto in exactly 100 words. Feel inspired? Write your own 100 words and I’ll link it here!

When you feel like shit, put on mascara – at least it will look dramatic if you cry

Pencil skirts will forever be sexy…

…so will red lipstick

Men and women can’t ever be just friends, unless the man is gay

Garter belts are more comfortable than pantyhose, and a whole lot sexier

If you can laugh at yourself, no one can have power over you

Confidence is enticing, so are high heels

Blondes really do have more fun

It’s better to like who you are than to care if anyone else does

Cutting your hair will change your life

Want to read more? Check out these fabulous bloggers who have written their own 100 words on life:

• Dear Winnie
• I’m Freestyling
• The Vintalogist
• Emily’s Fashion Finds
• Blah Blah Becky
• Rosco Valentine
• Butterfly Dreamer
• WobiSobi
• Let Them Eat Kate
• So What if I Like Pretty Things
• Le Mahogany Fashionista
• Sugar and Spice

Friend Friday: Authentic Blogging

1. Most readers and fellow fashion bloggers value authenticity in the blogs they read. How would you describe blog/blogger authenticity?

I think when someone is being genuinely themself it shows through every part of their life, including their writing (and by extension their blog). It’s in the photos too, someone trying to be sexy who’s just naturally goofy and fun, or vice versa, is pretty easy to spot in their outfit posts. I think part of it is staying within your means too. We’ve all heard stories of bloggers maxing out their cards to keep up with outfit a day posts. I refuse to deal with fake people in real life, and nothing turns me off of a blog faster than an inauthentic feel.
2. When it comes to your blog how to you infuse it with that true/authentic feeling?

I try to write the same way I speak and I try to infuse my personal weirdness into my blog. Plus, with my awards show posts, I don’t go crazy over something just because it’s at the top of every ‘best dressed’ list, I’m not afraid to say I just don’t get it! I also thinking posting photos is a way to be authentic. When I do the how-to’s the middle steps are usually NOT the greatest photos of me, but they’re important for understanding the concept.
3. Have you stopped following a blog in the last three months? What made you lose interest?

I hate ‘spam’ blogs, where every post is an advertisement for a sponsor or a reminder to enter a contest. Don’t get me wrong, those can both be very effective kinds of posts, but not when it’s the only thing that goes up. I also tend to stay away from blogs that only post celebrity fashion or ad campaigns, eye candy is great, but I feel like the meat and potatoes of fashion blogs are original content you can’t find anywhere else. If that’s not there, I’m out.
4. We can’t communicate effectively on our blogs, something we don’t live in real life… what are some ways you try to live an authentic life?

There’s this song that says “if you love me than thank you, if you hate me than **** you”, that pretty much describes my life. If you like me, great, if you don’t, that’s fine too, but I’ve never changed my life to fit someone else’s idea of what it should be, and never will.
5. Give a shout-out… Which bloggers do you think are truly genuine and why?

Emily Ann, one of my first blogging friends, everything she posts just radiates her personality and sense of style.

Adored Austin, she’s the nicest lady and gets back to you with a personal email response right away

What Would a Nerd Wear, I swear she shows up in every one of my shout outs! But her mix of Twitter, blogging, and general niceness makes her accessible and authentic

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Want to see what other bloggers had to say about authenticity? Check out more responses to the Friend Friday questions at Modly Chic.

Friend Friday New Year’s Resolutions

1. What’s the one thing you vow to learn or do in 2011 to improve your blog?

Start and complete 31 Days to Build a Better Blog, I’ve already bought it, so no excuses!
2. What did you learn about blogging in 2010 that you plan to put into practice next year?

Since I just started blogging for others this year, pretty much everything! I’ve started learning about SEO, widgets, intelligent commenting on other blogs,
3. Do you have any high-level goals for your blog in the coming year? Monetization? More comments? More connections with other bloggers? A new template?

I’ve been considering moving to a wordpress.org account so I can do some advertising and run some plug-ins I can’t on the more restrictive wordpress.com, but I have so much I need to learn before I do that!

4. If you could collaborate with one other blogger within your sphere of influence in 2011, who would you like to collaborate with, and what would you like to collaborate on?

Without a doubt, the brains behind What Would a Nerd Wear! Since I’m a grad student as well, I love the niche she’s found for her blog and I’m constantly going over to see what she’s wearing for inspiration. Since we’re both grad students, maybe we could work on a how-to guide for surviving grad school in style?
5. What do you plan to do to support other bloggers next year?

I try to get in touch with great bloggers and interview them, or mention them in posts to help share the traffic. Next year, I want to do some more intensive blogger support, maybe a blogger awards piece or something similar.

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Want to see more blogger’s resolutions? Check out Friend Friday at ModlyChic!