Self-reflection has led me to decide on a new approach for the Fine-Whatever link-up. Despite the apparent waning of interest in link-ups, I think that they’re an important part of blogging and I don’t want to stop hosting them.
Even so, lately I’ve been struggling. With coming up with a topic, with deciding on an outfit, with writing the post, and meeting my self-imposed deadline to publish at 6am Pacific Time. When I find myself on the “struggle bus”, a good way I’ve found that helps me get back on course to simply “get out of my own way”. As an example, let me walk you through that process and how I decided on my new approach for the weekly link-up.
There are four key pain points for me with these posts; topic, outfit, writing, deadline. The use of the word pain is meant figuratively because I do believe hosting, and blogging in general, to be a labor of love. I’ve also been giving a lot of thought as to how well the overall content of my posts align with the vision I have for my blog. Describing it as a fashion blog has never felt right for two reasons. One, while I love to shop and be “fashionable”, and believe myself to have an eye for style, I’ve had no formal training other than several decades of trial and error. And secondly, I started this blog with the intention to write about more than just fashion.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO MAKE. Henceforth, when asked what my blog is about I will respond with “it’s a lifestyle blog”. Thank you, that is all. You may now go back to what you were doing before.
Some time ago, I’d come up with a set of themes, one for each week of the month, that I would use as a guide for the topics of my link-up posts. This format had served me well until it didn’t anymore. In the last several months, I’ve been changing them up a bit but I still found the format to be a stumbling block. So I’m doing away with them (sort of) and bringing back “Last Week, This Week”. For a few years, LWTW had been a weekly feature showing what I’d worn to work before I’d retired. And since my retirement inadvertently coincided with the great COVID lockdown of 2020, there wasn’t much to report on or much variety in what I was wearing so LWTW went on hiatus. And now it’s back.
So, I’ve resolved the issues of topic and outfit (more or less) and my hope is that the posts will more or less write themselves. In these LWTW posts, I’ll share highlights of the week before which will include some of what I wore, where I went, any new recipes I tried (still doing the vegan thing), and anything else that has caught my fancy. Rather than simply sharing “fashion”, it is my lifestyle that I’ll be showcasing. The old link-up themes will still likely pop up every so often in other posts throughout the month.
Back in January, I switched my link-up post publishing day from Saturday to Monday and that change seems to have worked out well in terms of participation and my weekly schedule. However, I’d begun to realize that setting my publishing time for 6am my local time in California and my penchant for procrastination, often resulted in me being up until 3am finishing up the post. The Husband had begun to joke that I’d exchanged my old Sunday night woe of “what am I going to wear to work tomorrow?” with “I’ve got to finish my blog post”. So just last night an epiphany came to me … why not change the publishing time to later in the day?
Why not, indeed? I’d set my publishing time at 6am because I rather enjoyed checking my blog stats when I woke on publishing day but time to put my ego aside. Before landing on 12noon as my new time, I did a double-check with my world clock app to how that might impact bloggers in the UK, Europe, and Australia. It seems to work out a little better, I think. And now if I haven’t finished the post by a reasonable time on Sunday evening, I can still go to sleep at my usual time and finish up my writing Monday morning. Let’s move on to some other Last Week, This Week content.
Sunday – Tuesday
First, I’d like to tell you about the wee trip The Husband and I made to a lesser-known wine-making region in Southern California. Napa, Sonoma, and Paso Robles are three big ones that you likely have heard about before but do you know about Temecula Valley?
We headed out on Sunday morning and the drive to Temecula Valley took us about 2½ hours. Long-time friends of ours were already in the area staying at an RV resort; we stayed at the Embassy Suites because we’re hotel/motel kind of people. After meeting up with our friends in the early afternoon, we headed into Old Temecula for a late lunch and to stroll along the streets of this quaint area. We ate at PUBlic House; I had the Avocado Toast and the Brussel Sprouts (both from the starters section of the menu) and both were delicious. Later in the evening, we met up again at Pechanga, had dinner at one of the restaurants there, and gambled a bit. The casino is massive, larger than many of the ones in Las Vegas, and well worth a visit.
Many times it escapes me to take photos when I’m in the moment so I don’t have any to share from Sunday’s activities. On Monday, the four of us were booked for a wine-tasting adventure with Grape Line Wine Tours. The three outdoor photos below as well as the photo above were taken at our first stop, Mount Palomar Winery. They had several wines that we liked enough to purchase.
We stopped at four wineries in all which included a catered lunch along with our tasting at the third stop. We found the cost of the tour at $130 per person to be quite reasonable considering that tastings average at $20 and lunch would have been $15-$20 and we got a 10% discount on the purchase of wines. Better yet, no one had to be the DD (which is usually me) so we were all a bit tipsy by the end of the tour. In the evening, we headed back to Pechanga and had dinner there in another of the restaurants. Tuesday after breakfast, we went to a couple of the local area thrift stores and My Granny’s Attic, a rather large antique mall that offers a bit of everything.
The only other photos from the week are the ones below of the outfit that I took before heading out of the market on Saturday. My top (Chico’s) is a recent thrift store find; my jeans were also preloved but bought several years ago.
One last recent happening from about a week ago was a baby shower for one of my daughter’s friends. She’s the first in this group of five that goes back over 20 years to be married and now be expecting. My niece (second from the right) and my daughter (standing to my right) obviously have known each other all their lives and two of the others were in pre-school together. It was Hebrew school that brought these five together when they were in 2nd grade. The parents have been friends all along as well. You may recognize the woman on my left from the A Woman I Know: Amy feature on did on her.
Let’s Wrap This Up
Now, onto the Fine-Whatever link-up. My featured blogger from last week’s link-up is Hilda and by association, the other ‘Style Not Age’ gals who created looks inspired by Centenarian Iris Apfel. The colors and the clever layering of details in Hilda’s look are quite stunning.
This isn’t the first time I’ve switched things up on my blog and it probably won’t be the last. After all, for me, blogging is a hobby and not my livelihood so why make it harder than it needs to be?
Stay well and let’s keep in touch! Subscribe, tweet, follow, friend, pin … all options are available. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
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Note: This is an unsponsored post; however, some or all of the links to clothing items are associated with an affiliate program where I earned a few cents for each click.
Photos: MMPerez
20 Comments
Thanks so much for hosting, I bet the baby shower was fun. I have never been to one before.
Lifestyle is the way to go.Rena. I think we should all be able to write about anything we wish. And it adds a little more interest. People don’t just want to read about what you’re wearing. They want to know about you too xx
Hi Rena!
I know what you mean. When I started the blog ( 8 years ago) I was a “fashion blogger.” I was writing 4 posts a week, all fashion. It has morphed into 2 days a week of fashion, and one day a week ( Friday) of anything goes, midlife topics, lifestyle. So, It is hard to pin point sometimes. I just wrote about redoing and decorating our deck. It was sure our blogs were going to evolve after all this time. I just had a delicious – really tasty and smooth- Cabernet from Paso Robles yesterday at Brunch, will try that region again. Love the grey top with the mutlimedia!
Enjoy your week!
jess xx
http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com
I made some changes recently too. We act sometimes as if we are slaves to our blogging schedule. If nothing else, making a change reminds us that we’re in charge.
I agree with you about linkups! Thank you for continuing to host on your lifestyle blog!
I always forget to take photos in the moment too. I would have more content if I remembered! lol. Your wine tasting adventure sounds like fun!
Jill – Doused in Pink
I have described my blog as a little bit fashion, a little bit memoir, and a whole lot of meandering! I have no idea what I’m going to write about most days! But, I’m so glad you’re continuing with not only the link ups but the blogging, too! I realize most people are moving to Instagram because it’s quick and it’s easy (but is it really?). I like to read what people have to say, and your blog is one of the best! I also appreciate you as a woman close to my age, and I like to read your point of view! All of that to say, keep doing whatever you need to do and thanks for the link party! Please join Leslie and me on the 10th if you feel like it!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
This resonated on several levels! Now that we are back in the office on Tuesdays, I find I have to get my blog post and link up ready over the weekend, and lately I’ve been struggling to find motivation for taking pictures. Sounds like you have thought it through very well and come up with a way of making blogging work for you. Enjoyed the account of your winery trip, but Brussels sprouts? Ewww
You do need to step back occasionally and re-group. There may not be a major change overall but certainly tiny tweaks allow you more peace of mind. I’ve recently changed the format of my newsletter/mailing as I was having a major meltdown every month. Strangely I’ve now made it bi-monthly but an easier format. Good luck Rena
Thanks so much for continuing with the linkup
Pamela
http://www.style-yourself-confident.com
It’s your blog and you need to change whatever makes you feel good. I did that too a few months ago. Otherwise the fun of blogging goes away.
The baby shower looks like such fun and it sounds like you have had a great week! I think you should definitely make your blog work for you – it’s yours after all! And write about whatever you want to write about 🙂
Thank you for the link up! Hope your week is off to a nice start 🙂
I like to add a bit about my lifestyle too Rena, and will be interested to read more about yours Hun. Many thanks for sharing and hosting today. Jacqui x
I think it’s great that you’re frequently looking at how to make things better / easier. I do the same (sometimes lol). It sounds like you had a great time on that wine tour. I’d quite like to do something like that but my hubby is a non drinker so it just doesn’t interest him! It’s a shame considering we live in Portugal which produces some amazing wines, not to mention the delicious port wine from Oporto!
Hugs
Suzy xx
The beauty of blogging is that you are your own boss and get to change things up whenever and however you like! I hope the changes make it easier for you!
I do love your rationales Rena. It is for fun so we might as well keep that in mind.
I always say I have a fashion blog, but I do like talking about other things many times. Fashion is great, but there are other things in life, right??
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
You may have noticed that I don’t stick to one topic either. I guess mine is a lifestyle blog as well. 😀 Personally, I like hearing about people’s lives. For me blogging is about the connections. I am glad you found a new formula that works for you.
Sounds like a fun trip in wine country! And what a great pic of all the friends at the baby shower.
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
I have an announcement to make: I love your lifestyle blog!
Love and Wellness
http://www.wellnessshopland.com
I think I am in the seat right beside you on the same struggle bus! I have been relying mostly on style challenges as my inspiration for outfits and topics. And sorry I missed this link up again! I think my timing is off. I have to switch where I have you listed on my great blog link up page! I do my link party rounds very early in the morning and I am done for the day by around noon EST. I have o make sure to check your blog on Tuesdays instead of Mondays! Great Chico’s top, by the way, and it looks like y’all had a fabulous time at the wineries!
Shelbee
Oh, I forgot to mention that I also never felt comfortable referring to my blog as a fashion blog. I have been saying “fashion and lifestyle” blog instead since I do share fashion most of the time with my lifestyle articles. But lifestyle blog definitely captures it all as succinctly as possible!
Lifestyle blog sounds perfect, that is how i consider mine. A little bit of everything to do with life.
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com