A Tangent on Blogging and My Ideal Afternoon

I sat down to write a post about holiday gifts and ended up with something completely different. I think bloggers censor themselves a lot because they have the ability to do so; they choose which pictures are published on their sites, they can utilize Photoshop to minimize their perceived flaws, and they create the persona (or “brand”) that the world sees. Blogging, for me, is not just about sharing my sense of style through a series of images or lists of items that I like; blogging is still a form of writing and expression of opinion, but there’s no reason to reveal your thoughts to the world if they’re not based on some notion of genuine emotions or feelings.

There’s never a bad time to ask yourself why you blog, and furthermore, why you post what you do. If “for yourself” isn’t apart in anyway, then why should anyone read what you write? I faced this issue when I noticed myself immediately starting to deviate from my intended topic. Sure, posting something holiday-related is relevant, but it wasn’t what was on my mind. So I’m making the decision to continue this post in the direction that my mind wandered: to my ideal afternoon filled with freedom and girly romantic notions.

My day begins with sleeping in, and waking up to the soothing sound of rain thrashing against my bedroom window. To wake up, there’s a hot cup of coffee- maybe two. Perhaps there would be a little light reading- sifting through the stacks of fashion magazines by my bed- even those in languages I can’t understand; the pictures are pretty, and so are the words. I’d start a bubble bath- engulfing the room with the scent rose water, cover every free, sturdy surface with aromatic candles, and fill a champagne flute with decent champagne or French berry Lorina Lemonade. I’d press play on my iPod, queuing a playlist of 20′s and 30′s jazz, reveling in the irony of the contrast between old and new,  and drift into a dream world with each note sung by Ella Fitzgerald. I’d quickly grow restless with the heat from the bath, dry off, and slip into something silk and far too sophisticated and dressy to wear at home alone. I’d venture to an outdoor flower market like those that line the streets of Paris letting myself feel free without a coat in the rain. I’d fill my arms with as many bundles of fresh-cut flowers as I could handle. After filling every room in my house with bright blooms, I’d spend the early afternoon in an Anthropologie apron baking pastel macrons, continuing to dance and sing along to soothing sound waves. I’d slip between the silk sheets of my bed with French desserts by my side, and pick up a classic novel from my nightstand, an old favorite, Pride and Prejudice, or pop one of my favorite black and white films into the DVD player. I may love headbands, but I’m no Blair Waldorf…  on this kind of afternoon, I might even give “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”- a movie I’ve never liked, a chance.

That’s essentially how things would go, and that was definitely a lot of text to read- not necessarily “blog” material. But hey- you can’t say I didn’t warn you! I challenge you to give free writing a chance on your blog sometime before 2013; you never know what might come of it!

Images: Mint Typewriter, Black Bow Headband by ban.do, Place de la Madeleine,  French Berry Lemonade by Lorina, Penguin Classics, Platinum Petals Coupe by Anthropologie, iPod Nano, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Signature Spade Earbuds by Kate Spade, Ella Fitzgerald Songbook, Apron by Anthropologie, Ladurée Macrons, Dress by Erin Fetherston, Bain Moussant Extra Pur Rose, Lavender Rosemary Vignette Soap Bar, Elle Korea November 2011, Company Magazine UK March 2012, Elle France November 2011, Claw-foot Tub, Barr-Co. Hobnail Double Wick Candle