This site is due for a major revamping. Admittedly for many years I did not want to touch my web site because I did not know what I wanted to put on it, and it was hijacked badly by hackers. My passwords were weak, and the internet has grown more sophisticated year by year. Questionable links trying to sell questionable products were injected to the posts here, and the more I looked at how dated my blog looked in addition to the spam that the hacker left, I was left unmotivated in trying to change or improve my web site.

Also, in the last six years since this blog was active, it has been amazing to watch how the face of blogging has changed. Looking at my posts from that period of time (2011), pictures were less polished, and that included other fashion web sites. As cameras got better, web technology embraced HTML5 and CSS, blogs grew to be more fancy, and pictures became much more polished. The blog posts that remain on my site are extremely dated compared to the various leading bloggers that are there, some that even commented on my page. Others however, like me, withered into the background. That is the upside, the downside is that many of the leading bloggers, though deservedly leading through their success, are now often co-sponsored or given products to review. In many ways, they have lost their authenticity and their initial appeal which drove many readers to read them in the first place. This also describes many youtubers, in the fashion and beauty industry as well.

It is hard to distinguish authentic product reviews, tutorials, personalities from those driven by money. I imagine that once one has gotten a taste of success, it is difficult to remain true to one’s brand and what readers want from the content producer as they evolve and grow. Many bloggers used to write about the subjects that mattered to them, and products they used. Nowadays, it seems as though they no longer write posts based on what they want or what they believe is helpful, but what they are being sponsored to write in order to keep their connections. I’m sure the pressure to constantly push out updates and new blog posts is also difficult, and coming up with constantly new ideas is hard without having to constantly buy new products. But, the most important is intent. If your intention is to provide actual useful, honest information to their readers and create an income, that’s a win win right? But what if your main intent is to keep connections, make money and get free stuff? The blog no longer becomes attractive.

I think old defunct web sites are interesting in that aspect, as a glimpse of what the internet was like many years ago, in comparison to where it is now. Sure, they were less “pretty” and polished, but at least in many ways they felt, authentic.

I don’t know if I’m going to attempt in creating this site for making money in mind, but I’m hoping to create some useful content, and most importantly, dedicate myself to writing more frequently as a first goal. No deadlines, no set one post per week, no specific subjects. Just write more frequently, because that’s the first step in anything right? I’m an engineer by day, which, for any poor soul that is reading this, explains my poor writing. I don’t think I’ve written a proper essay for about 15 years or so. Practice makes perfect perhaps? Lastly, slowly revamp this page so it actually meets the design specs of 2017 so the poor eyes that visit my web site don’t have to punch their eyes out 🙂

In the past few years, I spent many months following some of my favorite blogs – ExtraPetite, FrmHeadtoToe, and then peeking at a few other excellent blogs here and there like WendysLookBook. I started squirreling down and reading more and more petite blogs, and I had noticed that I had in parallel, started to spend more and more as my budget had magically increased. I went from hardly ever shopping for clothes, to always browsing for clothes, and always online. You know, those clickable links of what bloggers post of what they’re wearing didn’t help my compulsion any?

I’ve never been a very good dresser. In fact, much of my wardrobe contains ill-fitting clothes, I’m sure of it. You see, I have a hard time figuring out if something I wear is a “good fit” or an “okay fit”. So, this is something that some of my favorite bloggers taught me (besides learning that some higher end items really do look awesome…) – you have to pay attention to fit. I had to stop reading them so regularly otherwise I’d always want whatever they were wearing. I quickly realized though, what fits for one does not mean it will fit for me. A better chance, being petite, but everyone is of different shapes and sizes. I tried to start a similar blog, instead of writing for myself, I was writing for other people. And then I decided it really wasn’t a very good thing on my budget. This, coming from a girl who owned perhaps maybe four shoes (a pair of runners, a pair of flip flops, a pair of dressier sandals and a pair of boots) to acquiring what seems like 25 pairs of varying shoes (and still growing). Following fashion has not been good for my wallet, but perhaps I dress better, maybe? I’ve acquired three closet full of clothes – 3/4 of which I don’t even like or wear.

So, it’s time for me to sort them through the DONATE, KEEP, MAYBE pile and go from there. Not without some experimenting I suppose. I tried to do that earlier in my de-cluttering posts, but utterly failed. Perhaps second time is a charm? And maybe there are other people out there like me, who had started a blog, but really couldn’t keep up – nor did I want to keep up with the ever growing need for new clothes, new shoes, and a new purse.

Maybe I’ll use this to write about whatever I’m reading, or whatever whims enter my head. This site needs a makeover so badly. I’m still trying to find my voice – and perhaps if I write more, I’ll be able to find my voice better without feeling as though I have to write about the latest trends in fashion (and sacrificing my budget), and be more of whatever is on my head – whether it be a very expensive item I’m coveting, a new toy I’ve gotten (I mean, there is the “nerd” in my title), what book I’m reading than dedicating it to just clothes. Or perhaps I’ll be that boring person that just posts their ill fitting Outfit of the Day that consists of clothes I wore just last week 😛 I do however, maybe want to explore my travels of going to the tailor. It’s kind of stupid but I’m kind of afraid of taking my clothes in. I’ve only really ever had my pants hemmed, but knowing that celebrities always look good due to always being tailored has motivated me to try and go down that route instead of buying something new… travels with the tailor perhaps? We’ll see.

Until next time,
~Grace