And now to undertake the task of recapping all that was Texas. This will not be in order, let's start on a more positive note with the one fully sunny day we had. White-ass legs, meet world:
In This Outfit:
Dress: Dear Creatures (ModCloth super sale)
Belt: J.Crew (oooold)
Bracelets: various friendship bracelets
Shoes c/o Lulu's
Every time I pack a new suitcase, I think to myself "this is it, Julie. This is the time you pack a perfect suitcase". It never is. I always end up with a weird assortment of things that don't exactly match, and then a big bag of big shoes that I'm sure airport security finds suspicious. However, I did manage to keep my wits about me and pack a simple outfit for Sunday's Social Media Symposium. It was perfect because it worked, my sleep deprived self could throw it together and go: chambray dress, pop of accessories, mega-shoes. Done. No rocket science required. That pink stripe is fake, by the way, hair chalk! It's awesome!
When Indiana contacted me back in January about speaking this year at the Texas Style Counsel Conference, I felt incredibly honored, and totally freaked out. Despite having spoken in front of thousands of high school and college students during my admissions days, there was something... intimidating about speaking in front of fellow bloggers. THE TWEETS! And what if I started to sweat? Got shakey? Babbled about my cats? Well, have no fear...because I managed to do all of those things.
Dress: Dear Creatures (ModCloth super sale)
Belt: J.Crew (oooold)
Bracelets: various friendship bracelets
Shoes c/o Lulu's
Every time I pack a new suitcase, I think to myself "this is it, Julie. This is the time you pack a perfect suitcase". It never is. I always end up with a weird assortment of things that don't exactly match, and then a big bag of big shoes that I'm sure airport security finds suspicious. However, I did manage to keep my wits about me and pack a simple outfit for Sunday's Social Media Symposium. It was perfect because it worked, my sleep deprived self could throw it together and go: chambray dress, pop of accessories, mega-shoes. Done. No rocket science required. That pink stripe is fake, by the way, hair chalk! It's awesome!
When Indiana contacted me back in January about speaking this year at the Texas Style Counsel Conference, I felt incredibly honored, and totally freaked out. Despite having spoken in front of thousands of high school and college students during my admissions days, there was something... intimidating about speaking in front of fellow bloggers. THE TWEETS! And what if I started to sweat? Got shakey? Babbled about my cats? Well, have no fear...because I managed to do all of those things.
The panel I spoke on was titled Blog Balance: Why Your Blog is not Your Life, I was paired with three other amazing bloggers: Veronica of Tick Tock Vintage, Diya of In Her Stilettos, and Kristina of Pretty Shiny Sparkly, all moderated by Macala of Fashionably Marketing Me. Live Life in Style was kind enough to film an excerpt of our talk (this isn't the whole thing):
What do you think of full-time blogging? Is your blog your hobby? Do you aspire to blog full-time? Why do or don't you? At one point- after I had left Admissions- I considered blogging full-time for a hot second, but realized that, like photography (what my degree is in), blogging was a hobby that I loved, but not the career I wanted.
If anyone has questions for me about the panel, I would be happy to answer them either in the comments section or on Orchid Grey's Facebook page (link on the side bar above).
Have a great Tuesday and thank you for reading xo
32 comments:
I really hope you start feeling more comfortable in sharing your words with us. I always love looking at all the wonderful outfit combinations you create, but I also love hearing your "voice" accompanying those outfit posts.
Best,
Amanda
Little Lady Little City
I second what Amanda said. I've been a long time reader, and I like your words just as much, if not more, than your outfits. And the video was good, you all made some very interesting points that I'm going to try to remember as a new blogger!
On a totally different note, love the outfit! I love the simple dress with bright accessories.
I am swooning over those shoes! You look beautiful as always! Lovely video, very insightful!!
x Aliya
www.hillsidestory.net
Sounds like it was a great panel! You're a really good public speaker, too, no worries! And love the outfit =)
You did a fabulous job speaking! Your voice reminds me of Anne Hathaway's - that is a compliment!).
I love your message about time and boundaries when it comes to blogging. At the end of the day, your health, life, the people in your life, happiness, etc. are what really matter!
Sarah
I found your views so interesting.
And it got me thinking I think I would love my blog to become successful and I suppose that means it will become a full time job at some point. But I want my blog to reflect my life so it is still important for me to have a balance. In order to blog at my best I think I need to get out and enjoy life in order to have material and be inspired.
Lottie, I think being a full-time blogger is completely respectable, but i also think it's good to look at the big picture. You don't necessarily have to become a full-time blogger to have a successful blog. We all have our own path, and if full-time blogging is your path, go for it!
Amazing post!
LOVE your shoes.
And amen, I don't want my blog to be my full time career. I love juggling jewelry design, running my business, working for freckled nest doing design, doing a little freelance design and illustration on my own. I love the blogging community, but I need a life and career outside of it to not get caught up in these weird cliques that seem to happen amongst blog ladies. I love my blog friends, but I don't want to become so involved that I start getting clique-y, ya know?
xo Moorea
Moorea, my thoughts exactly. While I greatly value the relationships I've gained through blogging- many of which turned in to real life, offline, legit friendships- I never understood the clique-y atmosphere that seems to permeate blogging. I know part of it is unavoidable, I post a lot of pictures of the same people a lot, because those are the people I see a lot...I'm talking in circles. But I think you get my gist.
you look uh-mazing!!! love everything, pretty lady!
xxx
www.ladyalamode.com
I know exactly what you mean, Julie. I guess technically I sort of blog full time, with designing and other odd jobs thrown in the mix, but my real passion is to be able to start a business here in Tacoma and really contribute to my community. I guess blogging is sort of an in-between step between working for other people and being able to work for myself- both blogging and then hopefully as a business owner.
First of all, that hair chalk looks phenomenal.
Second, I think the biggest take-away here, and something I'm seeing a lot of lately in the blog world, is to not stress yourself out about blogging. Do what makes you happy. If posting every day doesn't make you happy, it's going to come across in your blog. Do what you love, post what you love, keep it as simple as that.
You ladies provided great responses. I really wish I could of attended (thanks for sharing the videos). I'm glad to have heard your thoughts on this and you are absolutely true.
Sometimes I think my lack of posting was a big issue since I've had a blog for so long (about 3 years now) but then I realized my life has changed a lot in 3 years. Between school, work, internships, family, boyfriend, going through a depression, graduating, being unemployed (for much longer then i could handle) and moving to a different city, at the end of the day blogging is not my main priority, it's just a hobby. I like to remind myself that a few years back I was oblivious to the blog world and I was perfectly fine. not having 3 posts a day is really not going to have an affect on anyone.
Sometimes I'm glad my blog is not my life. We all need time to see the real world, spend time with loved ones and do the things we love but neglect because blogging doesn't allow time for it.
Lilli, I could not have said it better myself!
I have totally the same opinion like you - full time blogging is nothing that I'm dreaming of. But I don't want to say this in a negative way, I mean, there are quite many fulltime bloggers whose blogs I really love, it's just nothing I want to do full-time. My little blog that I started last november - so nothing compared to your blogs - was something like an outlet for me . A little personal thing where I hoped to share my outfits and thoughts about fashion with people that are interested in fashion (because I work in the cultural business and studied musicology at university, and nearly all people I know are not very interested in fashion. it was quite difficult to realize for me during my studies that I love this whole research and music world, but that I'm also interested in the "normal" things like fashion - and still most people in my near surroundings don't really understand that.. well I'm loosing the point...) - I just wanted to say, that full time blogging wouldn't make me happy, I need this music and culture part in my life and day, but I love to connect to fashion and style interested people and to force myself to dress a bit better and wear different outfits everyday (nobody in my "real" world would care about me wearing the same 7 days a week).
And I think it's also a bit dangerous to spend the whole day in the internet, I know you all are "real", but the internet is just not so real as "the real world".
xxx Anita
p.s. my legs are even whiter than yours ;-) and I love these sandals!
Kulter & Stil: "And I think it's also a bit dangerous to spend the whole day in the internet, I know you all are "real", but the internet is just not so real as "the real world". " <----YES, EXACTLY!
I would love to see your artwork on here, as one fellow Montserrat alumni to another.
Also there is nothing at all wrong with babbling about your cats. In fact, I started a blog to do just that.
Thank you for the video- being in the UK I really wanted to know what you guys said as I was never going to get the chance to be there!
I would love more notice of my blog but not in terms of 'success', more in terms of getting talking to people, having feedback and ideas. I made my blog to allow myself some creative space. I kind of see full-time blogging as putting pressure on a part of my life that I use as a little escape. I don't know, I'm getting jumbled. Its complicated! But I guess its one of those things where you have to remind yourself of what you are blogging for, and that the approaches that others have may be right for them and not right for you. I started blogging for y fun and I guess if it stops being that, then I would want to re-adjust
And as for changes- I like following changes. It is nice to see people grow and evolve
xxx
i seriously do the same thing when i'm packing. i'm SUCH a BAD packer!!
but you looked beautiful!!
and i wanted to share my blog's first giveaway with you! Sending the link to all the lady bloggers i look up to!
http://talesforkarina.blogspot.com/2012/03/giveaway-25-giftcard-to-mystic-moon.html
stunning shoes and I love your wonderful hair too
orange, red and pink?!?!? Love it!
www.RocksPaperMetal.com
www.RocksPaperMetal.etsy.com
I've been reading your blog for quite some time though I've never commented. I am glad that you are finally expressing yourself / letting your words speak as much as your outfits. It is nice to see such a different and more intimate side of you as opposed to just a page full of pictures.
Your honesty is really refreshing and I want to just really send my support your way and thank you for being brave enough to talk about depression / sadness (I've been there. It takes courage to tell it to the internet) or the fact that blogging can be difficult and draining sometimes.
Keep up the good work and the fantastic inspiring style and remember how much all your readers are supporting you! :)
julie!!!!! it was so amazing meeting you in austin and i wish SO MUCH that we could've hung out more. i didn't even get a chance to listen in on your panel so i'm super glad you posted the video. i'll watch when i have more time :) but i know that so many people really respect you (me very much included) and your views of blogging. some days i think we all need to hear the hard stuff, because if we can't hear it from someone like you then i think we just won't hear it. thanks for this post. and for being TOTALLY RAD!!!
wow, sweet shoes! I LOVE pink and orange together. I would probably die in heels that high, though. I'm not at that skill level yet.
I love reading your blog. and I think it's comforting to know that even super-stylish, remarkable ladies that seem to have it all together, have bad weeks/feel insecure/get lonely/whatever. it happens to everyone! hope you enjoyed your time in Texas. ♥
bedroomocean.blogspot.com
Sarah K: believe me, I AM SO FAR from having my life together!
What a great post! I completely understand your desire to not do blogging full-time. I had the same predicament about art vs. graduate school... do I attempt to do art full-time, or get a phd? In the end I came to the exact same conclusion as you: it just wasn't the career I wanted. Well, it certainly wasn't the only career I wanted, anyhow. I commend your courage! I hope you'll continue posting about such fascinating topics. :) (also I absolutely love your shoes and that streak of pink!)
2-or-3-things.blogspot.com
Julie, I am officially one of your male fans out there, from now on. These pics made me saying that, you look really gorgeous. Before I didn't really care TBH, but now its something different.
You might remember me, I am from Greece, living in Cyprus now, we talked to each other a year and a half ago, last time with a message "Remember the fifth of November"
It was so great to hear all of you talk! And I definitely support you sharing more, if you're comfortable, and think that will help. Also, I think not stressing yourself out is one of the hardest things to do—it's something I constantly struggle with.
I could never blog full-time, I think I would be bored and I know I'm most productive when I'm busy. Blogging just doesn't seem like a career for me. So my blog is my hobby, and when school is really busy it falls by the wayside a little, and I've accepted that. I also have my blog primarily for my benefit, and it's not like I have hundreds of readers who are dying to see my latest post, haha. I admire people who can make a good living blogging full time, but I don't think I ever could.
I love all your responses - smart and very real. I don't think I would want to blog full time - if a hobby became a job, I would be afraid that I would lose my passion for it. If I lost my passion, my blog would lose what makes it special, or entertaining. No matter what you do in your life, it is good not to completely engross yourself in it.
xo Jennifer
http://seekingstyleblog.wordpress.com
You look awesome and so cute in this outfit. I'm kind of in love with the pink streak in your hair.
I definitely feel you about packing too many shoes. Story of my life. If all I did was pack.
This was great to hear!So many of us have full time jobs and blog for fun...it's just good to know that the feelings about blogging ("Oh no...I didn't get no post up today!") are normal and that 'real life' should always come first.
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