SHOP THE POST
shirt[express] similar here// kimono[express] //shorts[express] ///necklace[forever21]////bracelet[express]//watch[target]//shoes[express] similar here//bag[michael kors] similar here//// lipstick color honeylove [mac]//photo credit [amy hess photography]
Oh, hey Wednesday! This week has already been so amazing in the Horton house. It started with John having a three day weekend. Who doesn’t love a three day? It makes the week go by so much faster. That is something I do love about the Army, lots of three day weekends and holidays off! Now if only we were rich and could take mini vacations every long weekend… Ppsshhh a girl can dream right?
Monday was an all around fabulous day. Kayla and I launched Sixth and Vine boutique out into the world early Monday morning. So nerve racking, it’s the first large website I have worked on and I was crossing my figures and hoping it would all work properly. So far so good! Once the website was live, I finished getting ready and headed out to shoot for the blog with my bestie and favorite blogger Samantha, and my other bestie/extraordinary photographer, Amy. How lucky am I to have friends with such similar interests? We always have such a good time on all our shoots. It’s our little girl time away from the kids and chaos of our normal everyday lives. Coffee, fashion & photography = the perfect day for us. Yesterday I spent most of the day laying around with little motivation to do much of anything. I came in and tried to write a blog a few different times… nothing to say. I have had that problem quite a bit lately. That got me thinking about why I started blogging in the first place. Last summer I had the bright idea that I was going to become a photographer. I have always loved photos and the idea of photography, so why not give it a try? Ha- photography isn’t as easy as it looks unless you use a point and shoot camera. In which case you aren’t a professional. So I had this new Canon 7D and Photoshop, and was overwhelmed. I ended up getting discouraged. The area we live in is full of professional photographers, and even more amateurs posing as pros. I decided I needed to find another hobby that could hopefully turn into a business and fulfill my need to work and accomplish things.
For years, the only time I read a blog was via Pinterest. Most of Pinterest is just pins, pinned by bloggers from their blogs. But over the last few years, I started following and reading the same blogs everyday or whenever those bloggers posted. Late last year, I decided, hey, I can do that. I can tell people about where I like to shop, what makeup to buy, or just about what was going on in my everyday life. I started doing more research on how to get this new hobby of mine going. I watched every youtube video I could find on the subject, and even read blogs about how to become a “blogger”. There was so much more that went into blogging than I could have ever imaged. Would I use WordPress or Blogger? Was I going to be a beauty, fashion, food or lifestyle blogger? How many times a week should I post? Ah, it was endless. Starting a blog is like starting your own business, you have to come up with a brand.
After a few months and lots of web research, I landed on a name and brand, if you will. “The Whitney Story, a lifestyle blog” I was going to focus on everything in my life – being a new mommy and Army wife, talking about recipes I made for dinner the night before. And, of course, what makeup and fashion I was currently crushing on. I thought it was going to be easy for me to blog about all of those things. In the beginning, I would stress myself out to the max. I wanted to be super successful overnight. If I didn’t post enough or have enough followers on social media it would ruin my day. After awhile, I took a little break and only posted when I really had something I wanted to share with my readers.
Well now 7 months later, I am at a cross roads with blogging. I’ve been asking myself… Do I still want to keep going? Is it making me happy? Do my readers like what I am posting? Do I even like what I am blogging about?
As time has passed, and I have learned more about the business of blogging, I realized that I wasn’t in the “niche” I should be. I am terrible at coming up with blogs about my everyday life. My life is pretttty boring, besides raising a toddler…that’s always interesting. I thought I would love to blog about recipes… no way. Food blogging is not my thing, too much work for something I am not passionate about. Fashion blogging, I love sharing my outfits. To be honest there is a difference between a “fashion blogger” and a “style blogger”. We can’t all carry a Louie and shop at high end stores. I mean, obviously in my dreams I do, but not in real life. But I do still love to share my favorite outfits.
The post that are the most fun and easy for me to write, are always the beauty related ones. So I have decided to take my blog in a different direction. Beauty blogging.
If you know me personally you know I have always always been a lover of all things beauty. Hair, makeup, and skincare are my passion. I have contemplated going to beauty school or a makeup artistry school time and time again. I finally discovered that this is the type of blogging I want to do. I want to try new products and let my readers know that is good and bad. Or talk about the products and tips that I use day to day. Is that $50 foundation worth the money? Is this self tanner going to make you look like Snooki? How to deal with acne. Those are all the things I could go on and on and on about.
As of now The Whitney Story will be focusing more on beauty with a hint of style. More reviews, monthly favorites, and new must have products. Don’t worry I will still be sharing lifestyle post here and there! Those posts will just be in the mix of all things beauty! I am so excited that I feel I have finally found my voice as a blogger, and I can’t wait to see where the rest of this first year takes me!
Oh and the outfit! It is almost officially summer, so I thought I would share this all white outfit. I mean all white, why not? This kimono, is almost always with me where ever I go. It is so perfect to throw on with most any outfit. I have a feeling I will have a closet full of them before to long! Know what else goes perfect with this outfit? Gold jewelry. So stunning with all white, so classic.
Are you ready for summer whites? And what beauty products would you like to see on the blog?
Robyn says
You had me on the edge of my seat! I am a o happy you are going to keep blogging on your beauty tips!! I love reading your beauty tips!
Xoxo
Robyn
Jen says
I’m so excited for all the beauty posts and reviews!! I really love everything, but especially hair care, makeup, and of course skincare/acne products. Can’t wait 🙂 xoxo