Sunday, July 01, 2012

sunday portrait week 131

Labels:

dress: asos
necklace: asos
bracelets: various turkish market stalls, topshop & black tied*

001. Another, "Oh I didn't realise it was Sunday" type post! And a bit of a mish mash of an outfit post and a sunday one! Day's have floated into one recently and I thought yesterday was Friday even though it wasn't, hence missing my week in photos day. All is well here and its now only two more days left until I fly back, I was going to go home for a few days but now Im going straight back to London off the plane to London, then possibly going to a festival at the weekend. In some ways Im craving getting back to normality, doing my daily things, seeing my pals and shedding these holiday sly lbs! I felt happy with my figure until I came away and now I feel like back at square one! I always find it strange how two weeks of not working out and eating the wrong foods can affect my body! I'm "middle heavy" so I find my weight goes straight to my tummy and thighs, not good when your expected to wear a bikini on holiday!

002. On this Holiday I've read a Dance with Dragons By George RR Martin (LOVED, but Im a massive ASOIAF geek), Two books from the Hunger Games Series (mediocre, but an easy holiday read and not bad, i just thought it was cliche) and started reading Fifty Shades of Grey (gave up, just isn't my kinda book at all!). Im now FINALLY reading A Fault in Our Stars by John Green which is so far so good. But then again I also wish John Green was my husband so I could be slightly biased! Any other holiday read recommendations for my next holiday will be welcome in comments!

003. Off topic from holiday chit chat, but sort of on topic in regards to blogging and my attitude towards it. I don't agree with alot of things on IFB, but a email came into my inbox with one of their latest articles about Competition vs Comparison. Personally I think competition and comparison is natural within blogging (and unfortunately part of being a human), but it is so important to harness these "comparisons" and use them to make your blog better. I've always tried to push myself and challenge myself to get to where I am today by setting small goals along the way. I read alot of blogs, it's important to see whats out there and what other people talk about. But then somedays I sit down at my computer, go on Bloglovin' and look all the blogs that I enjoy reading, especially the ones I aspire to be like and think "why can't my blog be like theirs?" While I'm happy with where I've got myself, I try to keep myself motivated by seeing others success and pushing myself to get those few steps closer to those small goals. Blogging does get bitchy, and I think we all get a touch of the green eyed monster at times (I'll put my hand up and be honest about that!), but I think its so importunity to use that to motivate yourself to write a better blog, engage with the people who read your blog or even improve your photography. This will make you a better blogger, not a bitter one! To quote the article “Competing will make you a better blogger, comparing will make you a bitter blogger”.

Gosh this is so long already so I'll leave it there!

57 comments:

  1. you are so brown! i have major tan envy. i love your shoes, dress and your rose gold necklace. i wish i had the motivation to make this much effort and look this good on holiday!

    lifeandstyleofemily.blogspot.com

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  2. love this dress!

    ! please checkout my giveaway on my blog, it's international !
    http://charmainescloset.blogspot.co.uk/

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  3. i want john green to read to me. isn't his voice just so yummy!

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  4. This dress is so pretty!
    Love your shoes aswell xx

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  5. I adore this dress on you, I've seen similar ones on AX Paris but I worry about the gaps in the dress showing off the belly! You look gorgeous though, I need some sun in my life!

    IFB have actually published a couple of articles I've thought have been useful and informative recently so I'm looking forward to reading that one, totally agree with the comparing vs competing thing though, similar to using the blogs that you enjoy for inspiration and motivation but not for out and out copying! X

    Rosie | A Rosie Outlook

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  6. I love your dress and the necklace goes so well with it! I know what you mean about wanting to get back to reality, I always feel that way! The article sounds interesting, I haven't read it but will definitely check it out! x

    Katharine from kathykins.com

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  7. Good luck for your interviews, love the dress and the collar necklace! x

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  8. you look lovely, I love your dress xxx

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  9. Lovely outfit, and I totally agree with the whole rant bit at the end ;) xx

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  10. I wish I'd got those shoes now, they look great on you! I might have to buy them (more unnecessary spending)
    Good luck with your job interviews too!
    xx

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  11. You look amazing, glad your having a fab holiday. I agree with everything you said about the blogging world!

    http://thefashiondistrictnlc.blogspot.co.uk/

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  12. Love this dress! Looks like a better quality version of the Primark one everyone and their mum has.

    -Elodie x
    http://www.elle-yeah.com

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  13. I love ASOIAF too, I'm about to start a Storm of Swords. Your outfit is lovely, especially the shoes!

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  14. Loving the dress and shoes!!

    Hayley xo
    Stylecandi@yahoo.co.uk

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  15. waah you look so tanned! really pretty!
    the dress is lovely!

    I want to start read the books from George rr Martin too! I love watching game of thrones and i'd love to have a good read on holiday soon! xx

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  16. I'm guessing you've read Looking for Alaska, but if not it's amazing :) Also the Catcher in the Rye, the Perks of Being a Wallflower and Black Swan Green xoxo

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  17. Love this outfit! Also, i have been eying up these River Island shoes for a while. What are they like? Are they comfy? Do they come up big or small as i am a 5 1/2?
    xx

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  18. Yesterday i had a look at IFB and i didnt read the article you are talking about. But when i saw you were talking about it, i went back and read it. Its pretty interesting! :) So... yea i am glad you talked about it, bc otherwise i probably woudlnt have read it.

    AAAAAND your dress looks amazing btw!

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  19. It's so true, comparison can make you feel really terrible. I try so hard to use this positively and be better myself, rather than feeling down about someone seemingly "better" than me in any way!

    The shoes look lovely with the dress, I love all the holiday looks... holiday wear is a fashion all of its own!

    Hope you've enjoyed it and feel refreshed :-)

    Dayner x my blog - mozzypop.com

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  20. You look so tanned, soooo jeal. That was a profound comment from me haha.
    I joined the gym today! Hope i can look as good as you by my holiday in september :)x

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  21. Good and interesting thoughts on competition v comparison, very true! Beautiful holiday outfit, particularly love the shoes and envy your tan!

    wishfulsinfulyou.blogspot.com

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  22. Good luck for your interviews :) I have one comming this week too! Thanks for all the book reccomendations after finishing my A levels I have lots of time I read again :) What you said about blogging is really interesting I'll have to read the article aswell. I agree that competing and comparing definately isnt healthy, you should just write your blog to make you happy! Xx

    alicesstylenotes.blogspot.co.uk

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  23. The Fault in Our Stars is so ridiculously good. Then again, most of his books are.
    I must say, you look great!

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  24. Great post, completely agree with you. Bloggers should support eachother and help eachother out rather than get jealous - there's no need to be nasty and bitchy when we all share such a huge common interest! You look lovely by the way - and very tanned! x

    http://just-a-thought-natalie.blogspot.co.uk

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  25. I totally agree with you - only you can decide whether to motivate yourself or become bitter from other better blogs. Its always important to keep finding things to motivate oneself as its not always easy!

    http://kellinasthoughts.blogspot.com/

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  26. Well jealous of your tan. amazing shoes. Lucky you going to a festival when you get back. Cant wait for those outfit posts.
    X
    http://dresseddamsel.blogspot.ie/

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  27. Love all the holiday snaps, great variety on your blog lately :) Completely agree with you, it's lovely to look at other blogs and aspire to them to make you a better blogger not a bitter one enjoy the last few days in Turkey x

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  29. I loveee George R.R Martin! I stopped reading 'A Storm of Swords' but I'm ready to finish it on holidays. Also I agree about The Hunger Games, it was good but nothing that will stay with me like some parts of ASOIAF did. :)xx

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  30. looking very tanned miss! Sounds like you're having a lovely time. Can't wait till I go to turkey ! xx

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  31. I thought Fifty Shades of Grey was parp too, just didn't find the protagonist very endearing.

    www.katie-matey.blogspot.com

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  32. looking lovely and tanned here! x

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  33. Hello!
    I just found you blog!
    I love it!

    I made a blog a couple of months ago!
    I would really appreciate it if you could check it out and follow if you like it!
    Thank you!

    http://www.newfashionorder.blogspot.com/

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  34. I love your dress !
    http://thefourseasons-gabriela.blogspot.co.uk/

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  35. That dress is gorgeous! And your tan is looking fab, and your figure looks great-lucky lady!

    www.littlekjf.blogspot.com

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  36. I love your hair!<3

    Greetings from Finland :)

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  37. I love the last point you made in this article; what you are saying is so true. I saw it on IFB too, it is very easy to forget about having a healthy attitude towards blogging and to become disheartened with your own. It is natural but there is a huge difference between being inspired to do your best and becoming jealous. It's very nice to hear you re-affirm it :)Awesome dress too, you look lovely!

    www.21couture.co.uk

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  39. I love John Green too! The fault in our stars is an amazing book, it literally gave me a better outlook on like (after I shed about 5 litres of tears). Hope you have a good couple of final days on your holiday.
    x

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  40. Such a super cute outfit!

    octoberchic.com

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  41. love the outfit!

    www.cappuccinoandcream.com

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  42. such a gorgeous outfit! xo

    vintage-teapot.blogspot.ie

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  43. Perfect dress!

    www.laceandpearlsbyroos.com

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  44. I was going to get this dress!! Kinda of wish I did now aha!

    thebeautymist.blogspot.com

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  45. that dress looks absolutely stunning on you *_* love it :)) and the heels are just FAB

    xoxo FlirtingwithFashion

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  46. so gutted i'm back from holiday now! want to go back so bad.

    http://studsanddreams.blogspot.co.uk/

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  47. i'm suffering from major body envy right now, you look great!xo

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  48. Hey!

    I just wanted to let you know that I borrowed one of your photos for a "Summing Up June Favourites" over at my blog (and linked back of course!), I hope that's alright. If it's not okay for you, let me know and I'll remove it. ;)

    You can see it here: http://badtastetoasttoast.blogspot.de/2012/07/summing-up-favourites-16-june-2012.html

    Have a good day! :)

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  49. you look soo tanned xx

    http://ravingbeautyx.blogspot.co.uk/

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  50. You look really lovely :)
    harrie X

    http://laceanddungarees.blogspot.co.uk/

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  51. You are SO brown, you look amazing! I'm jealous!

    Rozi xo

    http://the-blonde-rose.blogspot.co.uk

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  53. I loved the fault in our stars!! I didn't even think about looking up other books he has written, but seeing as you say you want him as a husband they must be good! I'm getting onto that right away!

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  54. fifty shades of snorefest, i gave up after the first chapter! like your note about blogging, i really want to make mine better, but it is so very easy to just feel intimidated by it all! x

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  55. love this outfit and your hair :)
    i love reading your blog and it encouraged me to make my own. So if you've ever got a moment feel free to check it out at http://armariodedanielle.blogspot.co.uk/ x

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  56. Firstly.... I love your outfit!
    I've just started reading you blog and blogging myself, I completely agree about your comment on your attitude towards blogging! The only way you can learn and grow your own blog is by reading and comparing yourself to others. Its nice to hear your opinion on it!
    Check out my blog sometime!

    http://fashioniswhaticallhappiness.blogspot.co.uk/

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  57. Gorgeous dress. That necklace looks lovely with it too x

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