New Blogger Tips & Intro to Blogging Greatness

As some of you know, I recently finished up teaching a course for beginning bloggers. It was a great experience for me, I met some awesome people and got them to revamp their blogs and some just start out. But I feel like in blogging, you are always learning. It's an every-growing community and as we established these blogs, I feel like I learned just as much from my students. Especially one student, Nan, who started writing a comedy blog for the 65+ crowd. She's hilarious and so insightful and I'm excited to see where her blog goes.

With that in mind, I think the November Blogathon prompts for Thursday and Friday (both of which I'm doing today) were right on point to what I've been thinking a lot about recently when it comes to blogging. So here we go!

If you could tell your novice blogger self 3 tips...

1 - Build a community.
I really just started writing this blog so my family and friends would read it and know that I was having fun and was safe while living in downtown Pittsburgh. I have had other blogs before and this one was not started to get lots of page views, it is not created to be SEO friendly, even though at the time that's all I was doing in work. But when the greater Pittsburgh community started to catch on to what I was writing and more people became followers, it started to find a bigger purpose for this space. Which was nice and I'm glad to see that a lot of those early followers continued to read even when I moved out of the city, because my content has certainly changed since then. But those followers, bloggers and non-bloggers, have really opened a lot of doors for me and while that wasn't my intention, I really appreciate it.

2 - Fellow bloggers are not your competition.
I do not like that a lot of bloggers are just in it now to monetize and a lot of "How to Start a Blog" posts are dedicated to making money off your blog right away. I feel like doing that leads to you being unauthentic and leads you to not make friends with other bloggers because you view them as your competition. That is dumb. Blogging is supposed to be about the community not the advertising dollars, and while those are nice, hating a fellow blogger in your niche is pretty lame.

3 - Allow yourself a break whenever you need it.
I hear about blogger burnout too much. If you've followed along here for a while, then you know that I believe in giving myself mini-breaks from blogging whenever I feel like it. I wish more bloggers were like that, because readers can tell when your heart isn't into it and I never want that feeling to come across to my readers. Give yourself time off if you want/need it.

Now skipping over to Friday's prompt - Introduce 3 bloggers you follow and why.

Sarah Hartley | Midwest Muse | Sincerely, Sara
Photos are the property of Sarah, Jessica, and Sara, respectively.

Sarah Hartley - Sarah has made an appearance here a couple times, and she will always be my first blogger pick. She's one of the first bloggers I really started to follow consistently and I like that she's built a community that has followed her from fashion blogger girlfriend to mommy of the cutest little boy, with the perfect husband. I like that she's become more open over time to sharing about herself and now I cannot even believe how transparent she is with her readers. She's really grown and it's been an amazing journey to watch unfold over the screen. She's got great style, a fresh sense of humor and plenty of baby pictures to show off her cute little man.

Midwest Muse - Jessica is amazing. She has the best style that I have ever seen, has the best taste in music and generally just doesn't give a shit what people think, and I LOVE it. Jessica takes a week off from blogging and doesn't really need to give an excuse as to why because her readers pick up right where she left off. She changes her hair drastically on a whim and still knows how to style it better than anyone who has had that hair for years. She's basically a unicorn living in Ohio and I cannot get enough of her and her blog. Also, her photographer boyfriend takes the most gorgeous pictures of her that her whole blog just looks like an indie magazine you need to be reading.

Sincerely, Sara - I found this Sara through reading Sarah Hartley's blog and have to say that I'm glad I did. Sara is someone I admire because she is so consistent and her blog reads like she wrote it just to you. She has clear goals about her future and her blog, she tells you upfront what she blogs about and when, and she is always producing quality content in her niche. She's making the rest of us mid-twenties bloggers look unorganized and I actually love it because she is just so good. She's also a bookworm, so always one to recommend good reads.

So, who are your favorite bloggers?

And what wisdom would you share with new bloggers?

Fashion Week: Wrap-Up & Winner Announcement!

I hope you all enjoyed the 2nd Annual Chels & the City Fashion Week! I have really enjoyed hosting Sara, Toni, Danielle, Jessica, and Meagan. Thank you, ladies for allowing me to interview you and being such a vital part of this week. You five are amazing and I am so glad that I am able to call each of you a friend. I really mean that. These five and the relationship I've built with each of them over the last year or two has been incredible and just goes to show how great blogging can be if you put in the time and energy it deserves. 

And thank you, sweet readers, for sharing this week with your friends, coming back everyday to see the next featured blogger and interacting with us through commenting and entering in the giveaway. You all are what makes blogging worth while and I'm sure I can speak for all of us in saying thank you so much for following along this week! But now onto the part you all have come here for, the winner of the $50 Target gift card is....drum roll, please...

JENNA DILLON! CONGRATS!

Please email me at chelsandthecity(at)gmail(dot)com by Sunday at 11pm to claim your prize!
If prize is not claimed within this time frame, a new random winner will be selected.

Thank you to all who entered for making this week such a success! Have a great weekend!

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Fashion Week: Meet Jessica of Midwest Muse!

Hoping you all are having a fantastic week! With Fashion Week winding down, I just want to thank you all for following along so far and remind you we're not done yet! And the giveaway winner will be announced on Saturday so be sure to enter to get some great new pieces for spring!

Today, I'm so excited to introduce you to Jessica of Midwest Muse! I honestly don't know when I started to follow Jessica because it feels like I always have. She is easily one of my favorite bloggers and I think her style is unparalleled. How she combines feminine and edgy pieces blows my mind, seriously, she's amazing. I gushed about her in a post last week and have to say it again, she's making Ohio look cool. (That's a big thing for a Pittsburgher to say!) She also has a fantastic taste in music, if I do say so myself, considering we like a lot of the same bands. I feel like had we met in high school, we would've been friends to this day. I hope you enjoy meeting her today and checking out her impeccable style.

All photos provided by Jessica.

How would you define your style? 

I would define my style as being feminine yet edgy.

Where are your favorite places to shop? 

I will shop anywhere with a sales rack and the thrift store. I am so beyond thrifty with my clothes. I like to look great, but I also don't like to spend too much money. Thrifting and sales are perfect for this. Of course, I make exceptions, but it usually involves a lot of waiting and making sure that I NEED a piece over $40 or whatever.

What are some of your favorite pieces or go-to pieces in your closet? 

Dresses. Dresses are my go-to. This sounds generic, but basically any dress that is easy to put on (doesn't require someone to zip, complicated buttons) or skirts + band t-shirts. That's been my main winter go-to. I like to keep it simple.

Where does the inspiration for your outfits come from?

My style is completely based on my moods and practicality. I am always out and about and I want to be comfortable yet stylish. It's sometimes a hard line to balance, but it's necessary. I am also inspired by the weather (duh), my friends, and colors. Inspiration is everywhere if you understand how to interpret it.

If someone asked you for style advice, what would you tell them?

Style isn't what everyone else is wearing. Style is what you want to wear. What you feel good in. What you love. Take whatever that is and own it. Even if it's not what the masses are wearing/loving. Seriously. Just be you and your confidence will be enough to make everyone believe in your choices.

When and why did you start fashion blogging?

I've been into the Internet since I discovered it in middle school. I started off on Livejournal and have been on various blogging platforms before blogging was a term. For my sixteenth birthday, my Dad got me a digital camera (when they were first become affordable) and from there my love of cameras blossomed. I eventually upgraded and started taking self-portraits. My style was evolving and while my portraits were more "artsy" I really enjoyed it. This is about the time that style blogging became a thing. I read a lot and I was like, "I can do this!" So basically, it was me combining my love of photography, blogging, and style. It was a perfect creative outlet for me. Though I had no idea what I was doing when I started. I think this was 2 1/2 years ago.

How has your style grown or changed since you began fashion blogging?

I think my style was much more basic when I started. I wasn't sure how to put together outfits or what I liked beyond dresses. I think my style has evolved into my style. Does that make sense? At first I just liked clothes and now it's a lot more than that. I know exactly what I like and why I like it. I know what works and what doesn't. Which I think just means that I've learned to understand how to dress my body better. Which is to say, I'm sure there are outfits in my archives that I am ashamed of.

What advice do you have for bloggers just starting out?

My advice is this: look around at the blogs you love, at blogs that make you want to blog, think about why you like these blogs. Is it the style? The photography? Their lifestyles? The articles? The design? Take that in, make note and decide which part of those you want to document and which align with your life. Make realistic goals. Realize that your blog will not be a success overnight and that you must cultivate it. For me, coming up with a good name & design are the first steps. Everything else can be built around that. Your goals and ideals will change once you start blogging, but it's important to start off with the right ideas.

Also I think it's important to note that you don't need fancy cameras, expensive software, designer clothes. Just be you and use what you have. You will learn so much just from blogging. Getting started is the hardest part, but once you do, everything else will eventually happen if you work hard.

Lastly, network, network, network. Building and fostering organic relationships is the most important. The big bloggers you admire aren't going to come to your blog (probably), but other bloggers most definitely will. Some of the best people I know I have met from fashion blogging and met them in real life. It's that AWESOME.

Midwest Muse | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | Bloglovin

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Bloggers: Here's What I Really Think About You

Like I said yesterday, most of the posts this week were inspired by recent posts I've seen from other blogging ladies. This one, I saw on Elizabeth of Undeniably, Me. And it's about, obviously, how I really feel about certain bloggers. In this community of bloggers, you really start to favor some and get to know the ladies behind the blog more than you would think. So specific things tend to stick out about those women and I want to share this list of favorites today! Enjoy & go make some friends!

Made with Polyvore.

Comes Up With The Most Unique Ways to Have Fun: Jessica of Midwest Muse. Whether it's planning a city-wide clothing swap, attending local concerts, being a thrifting pro and showing off her looks on the runway, or hosting her own party, Jessica has got it going on. I'm always so impressed (and jealous) of her adventures! She makes Ohio actually seem cool ;)

Prettiest Smile: Sarah of Coming Unstitched. You've seen Sarah around here before and I'm sure you'd agree that this lady has got a pretty smile. I love that you can tell how genuine it is in her daily outfit posts too.

Never Fails to Leave Me Hungry: Setarra of Quaintrelle. First of all, I should mention that I feel like if Setarra and I ever met in real life, we'd be besties. We have too much in common, literally right down to when we tore our ACL's, that it's hard for me not to want to be her real-life friend. But her blog talks a lot of her travels and restaurant reviews. And she takes such gorgeous pictures of her meals and describes them in such detail that I cannot help but leave her blog drooling and heading to my refrigerator.

Most Gorgeous Home: Maddie of Maddie Richardson - A Lifestyle Blog. Every post that has a picture of her home makes me swoon. The space just looks so bright, airy, comfortable and not overly styled. Gorgeous space. Plus she shares it with a cute puppy...and hubby.

My Favorite Hair Color: Robyn of Cleverly, Yours. You have more than likely seen Robyn if you are a fan of Pinterest. I'm pretty sure that her outfits are pinned more than anything else on that site. But she also has the greatest hair ever. Super long and dark brown. All kinds of jealousy running through my veins when I visit her blog haha

Crazy Cat Lady: Elizabeth of Undeniably, Me. You know this is out of love! The girl who inspired this post and the girl who is the mommy to Khalifa's brother, Oliver. What a great name he has! My whole family approves haha Anyway, Elizabeth posts hilarious stories about Oliver and he's even guest-posted on her blog before, so there's that.

What do you really think of some bloggers? Tell me who you'd name for these!