Friend Friday: Hair Care

Friday's here! So this week's Friend Friday questions revolve around hair care. Hair styling is not my thing, but I do try to keep my hair healthy.  So here are my answers!

Buns and Updos are my go-to hair styles

How often do you get your hair cut? I should get get my hair trimmed every few weeks, but the reality is that I get a trim every few months.  I plan to be more consistent with trims in the future.

Do you go to the same stylist each time, try someone new, go to the cheap hair cutting chains or live it up in a salon?  I am currently in between stylists.  I haven't quite found a stylist that I like that fits within my price point.  It's been a bit of a challenge because I want a stylist that can deal with natural hair and that can give me nice styles (in my natural texture and blown out) without sacrificing the health of my hair.  I've been doing my own hair for the past several months, but when I have gotten straight hair styles, I've gone to my local Aveda school.  I've gotten twisted styles at an all natural hair salon close to where I live in DC.

Do you color your hair? How often? What’s your natural color? I've never had color in my hair, or any chemicals for that matter.  My natural hair color is very dark, nearly black.  I do try to do henna gloss treatments on my hair every few weeks, but that's mainly for it's conditioning properties rather than the reddish tint that some people get with regular henna treatments. I've purchased henna from this site in the past.

The one thing you always do to keep your hair looking great is: I am not really a "hair person", so I feel that I still have a lot to learn about making my hair "look great" but I do deep conditioning treatments every time I wash my hair and moisturize daily.  

Carol's Daughter, one of the brands I use

What hair trend do you love and wish you could rock? Sometimes, I'd like to get a crazy hair color like Rihanna and I'd love to try a big fro like Solange wears. 

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Fashion Beauty Friend Friday is a Google group for bloggers to discuss/answer questions on a given topic each week. Visit Katy of Modly Chic if you are interested in participating.

Friend Friday: Outside Influences

This week's Friend Friday questions revolve around outside influences. As usual, Katy's questions are thought provoking.  As a blogger, it's a given that blogs inspire and influence me, but I have influences outside of blogs that I haven't talked about as much.  So here are my answers!

What magazine's do you subscribe to?  I am currently subscribed to Marie Claire, Lucky and Inc Magazine.  As much as I love magazines, I've come to the conclusion that 2-3 magazine subscriptions are enough reading material for a given month.  I do occasionally rotate my subscriptions, But I've consistently subscribed to Lucky for the past few years.  Inc is a newer addition to my subscriptions and I'd recommend it to anyone interested in business/entrepreneurship.

Do you watch fashion TV shows?  I watch movies more than TV for my fashion inspiration.  But I do on occasion watch fashion TV shows like Project Runway and the Rachel Zoe Project. I'll also throw in my guilty pleasure since it is a TV show but not specifically a fashion TV show though clothing is prominently featured...Gossip Girl.

Beyond blogs, what websites do you frequent for fashion inspiration? I occasionally read Refinery 29, Who What Wear and the Style section of the New York Times...that's about it.


Advertisements play a huge role in forming public opinion about a product or a brand. What ads do you like and why?  I enjoy look books from stores I shop frequent (or aspire to shop at in the future).  To be honest, I pay more attention to television and print ads that have nothing to do with fashion that I find humorous.

Do you own any fashion books?  I've read quite a few fashion books over the past year or so. A few of them have turned up on my seasonal book lists.  But I'm pretty choosy these days about the books I actually purchase. I only have one book that would be considered a "fashion book" which is a coffee table book called Fashion: A History from 18th to 20th Century by Taschen.

Fashion Beauty Friend Friday is a Google group for bloggers to discuss/answer questions on a given topic each week. Visit Katy of Modly Chic if you are interested in participating.

Friend Friday: Shoes

Happy Friday friends! This week's friend friday questions revolve around a topic I definitely have an affinity for: shoes!  So here are my answers to the questions:

What’s your go-to pair of shoes? My go-to pair of shoes are a “nude” faux snake print pair of heels I purchased from Target. They go with a variety of things and I wear them year-round.  Here are a few outfits I've worn in the past with these shoes.

Worn April 11, 2011, Worn August 14, 2010, Worn April 21, 2011

What goes into your shoe buying decisions? My first consideration is to make the determination that the shoe(s) can fit into my budget. The second consideration is size. I wear a 5 ½ size shoe, so I sometimes have a hard time finding my size in stores. This is the main reason why I do the majority of my shoe shopping online these days.


The majority of the shoes in your closet are what color? As much as I try to wear color in my clothing, the majority of my shoes are black.  But I will say that my warm weather shoes are a little more varied in color than my cold weather shoes/boots.


When it comes to designer shoes, what are your favorite brands and why? Dries Van Noten, Valentino, Prada, Miu Miu are a few of my favorite designer brands.  I don't actually purchase designers shoes, but I love the style, craftsmanship and unique details of shoes from these designer brands. This lady has a fantastic shoe collection that includes many of my favorite designers.

If price wasn’t an issue, you’d own which shoe? I plan to do a complete summer shoe wish list (at a price point I can actually afford) soon, but if I could purchase one pair right now regardless of price, it would be these.

Fashion Beauty Friend Friday is a Google group for bloggers to discuss/answer questions on a given topic each week. Visit Katy of Modly Chic if you are interested in participating.

Friend Friday: Inspiration

Happy Friday friends!  This week's Friend Friday questions revolve around inspiration.  Style inspiration can be found everywhere and I love the fact that I can share the things that inspire me through blogging.  So here are my answer to the questions!

1. Which celebrity (celebrities) do you look to for fashion inspiration?  To be honest, I'm more inspired by the style of bloggers these days than celebrities, but there are some stylish celebrities that regularly inspire me such as actress Kerry Washington, celebrity stylist June Ambrose, singer Shingai Shoniwa, fashion designer/author/reality star Nicole Richie, singer Solange Knowles and actress Audrey Hepburn.  
 
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2. When it comes to your own personal style, what inspires you?  My mother and grandmother's personal style are an inspiration.  I find myself doing things they've been doing for years before it was trendy like "finishing" outfits with belts, mixing prints and pattersn, altering items to give them a different look and "remixing." 
   
3. How do you hope to inspire your readers?  I hope to inspire my readers to buy only clothing that you love and to embrace your own personal style and have fun with it!
4. Outside the realm of fashion who/what inspires you?  I can find inspiration almost anywhere; from artwork, films, books, music, interior design...I could go on but I'll stop there. 
5. And since Idol is ending… Which songs inspire you?  I haven't watched American Idol for years, I think during the last season I watched, Jennifer Hudson was a contestant.... But I am a big music lover, so there are too many songs to name that have inspired me in some way, but the first song that comes to mind at the moment, is "Golden" by my fellow Philadelphian, Jill Scott.

Fashion Beauty Friend Friday is a Google group for bloggers to discuss/answer questions on a given topic each week. Visit Katy of Modly Chic if you are interested in participating.

Friend Friday: Gratitude

This week's Friend Friday questions are so timely, because reflecting on gratitude is a practice I want to implement more into my daily life!  So here are my responses!

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1. When it comes to me personally – I owe a lot of who I am to: My mother.  My Mom is my biggest cheerleader (and first blog reader)! She inspires me to keep plugging away at my goals and thoughtfully answers my incessant random questions about everything under the sun.  Love ya Mom!
2. When it comes to me professionally – I owe a lot of who I am to: As the African proverb says, "It's takes a village to raise a child," It truly takes a village to inspire a Shen Dove : ) I owe past and present professional inspiration to my family, friends, godparents, teachers/professors and a few informal mentors I've picked up along the way.  I've also learned quite a bit from this awesome lady as well!
3. When it comes to the art of blogging, I’m grateful to these people for helping me through some rough spots: I don't think I've yet to face any major rough spots in blogging, but I am inspired on a regular basis by bloggers that exhibit creativity, grace, positivity and authenticity.  Some of these bloggers include Grit and Glamour, Gala Darling, Stylish Thought, Modly Chic, Mane and Chic, The Coveted, Fly, Streets and Stripes among many others.  I'm constantly learning new information and gaining inspiration from these bloggers.
4. One blogging challenge I’m grateful happened because it made me stronger was… As I've said, I don't think I've faced many challenges so far with blogging, but it took me a while to get up the nerve to start this blog in the first place.  Initially, when I started blogging in 2008, I maintained a blog that mostly talked about personal finance.  I didn't discover fashion/style blogs until a little later.  After a while, though I still love the subject, I didn't really feel like I had much to say about money that wasn't already being said.  So I decided to take a different direction and started this blog.  Who knows if I'll revisit blogging about finances and living on a budget on this blog or elsewhere, but Shen Dove Style become such a fun outlet to talk about a subject most people in my real life have little enthusiasm for...fashion!
5. To my readers, I’d like to say: Thank you to each and every one of you for reading and commenting!  I've enjoyed getting to know some of you through your comments and your awesome blogs. I'm so grateful for my readers and hope that I get to meet some of you in real life in the future.  I can't tell you how much useful information I've learned from my readers over the past year about fashion/beauty, social media, life, creativity, positive thinking and many other subjects.

I'm happy and grateful that I stumbled upon blogging a few years ago and now have a hard time imagining life without it!

Fashion Beauty Friend Friday is a Google group for bloggers to discuss/answer questions on a given topic each week. Visit Katy of Modly Chic if you are interested in participating.

Friend Friday: Spring Trends 2011

This week's Friend Friday installment revolves around a subject that many ladies have on their minds regardless of whether they maintain blogs or not... spring clothing (and accessories)!  So here are five spring trends that I will be rocking this season:

1. Maxi Dresses and Skirts.  The maxi dresses and skirts that I own will definitely be in rotation this spring!  I think maxis are a universally flattering piece if you find the right one for your size/height, so I'm happy that they are "on trend."
 
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2. Color Blocking.  I'd really like to try my hand at color blocking with fun bright colors like orange, green, yellow and pink.  I've seen some great options in my local H&M and would like to take a thrifting excursion to see what I can find to make this trend happen.
 
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3. Flared Pants and Jeans.  I've been wearing my favorite pair of flare jeans for several weeks and I'll continue to wear them through out the spring.  If I see a great pair of flare pants in either white or a bright color/print that fit in my budget, I'd definitely purchase them.

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4. Prints.  I love prints of all types: floral, animal, ethnic, etc., they never go out of style for me personally, so I plan to wear them as I usually do in the spring time.
   
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5. Wild card. I couldn't decide what the last spring trend would be that I will try.  I'm thinking along the lines of accessories or make-up.  Some possibilities I've been contemplating include: orange nail polish, lipstick in a pink shade (I'm usually a lip gloss girl), or a neutral colored clutch.

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What spring trends do you plan to adopt this season? 

Friend Friday: Rules of Engagement

I’ve decided that one of my blogging goals for the month of April is to answer Katy of Modly Chic’s Friend Friday questions consistently each Friday for the whole month! I thrive on goal-setting and love answering Katy’s thought provoking questions when I make the time, so this goal should be one the easier ones I accomplish this month!  I thought this week's questions were interesting and though I don’t think I’m any sort of authority on blogger etiquette, I’m happy to offer my opinion and point of view on these Friend Friday questions.  So here are my responses!

1. Guest Posts are a good way to gain new exposure. What do you think is the appropriate way to go about securing a guest spot? I would suggest before making requests for guest posts or anything else that you first reach out to the blogger through social media and regular commenting to build a relationship before making the request. I think most bloggers are more likely to accept requests of this nature if they are already familiar with you and have had a chance to view your blog and see if your content fits into their personal preferences and aesthetic. Everyone has their preferences, but I think making a guest post request by email is most appropriate. But just in case, you might want to look carefully at the blogger’s contact page to see if they list preferences in the ways that they want to be contacted. I think it’s also important to keep in mind how far of a reach/popularity the blogger has before making a guest post request. If a blogger is highly popular, it might be difficult for the blogger to agree to every guest post request because of time contraints even if the blogger really enjoys your content and would like to support you as a fellow blogger.
2. Leaving comments is essential to growing your blog. But how can you leave a comment without coming across as ‘follow me’? You want to remain consistent and authentic in your blog comments as you are in your blog content. It's helpful to stay on topic and say something that offers to the discussion before addressing any personal things like requesting someone to 'follow' you. I don’t mind if bloggers ask me to ‘follow them’ but it’s not really necessary because I really do make an effort to follow you or at least stop by your blog and visit if you take the time to comment.
3. We’ve all gotten a mass email at one time or another asking for blog exposure, a link exchange, etc. But mass emails don’t work. How do you make your email stand out from the crowd? Taking the time to build a rapport with bloggers before ‘cold emailing’ them makes you stand out from the crowd in my opinion.  I don't think any blogger at any level really appreciates impersonal 'form' emails.
4. In interacting with other bloggers, where so you draw the line between seeking support and begging for exposure? I love the sense of community that blogging usually fosters and as in every community, there is nothing wrong with seeking support. As long as there is a sense of balance and you are not always asking for support/help but also offering it as well, then you are fine.
5. What’s one rule of engagement error you have made and how have you remedies that? I wouldn’t call it an error, but because of time constraints, I don’t always get to comment on all of the lovely blogs I read. I try to comment as often as possible on blogs I enjoy, but there are only so many hours in the day and as much joy as I get from blogging, I do have other things that require my time and attention.  I've built in time each day to catch up on commenting and blog visiting and that has helped me to be a bit more consistent.  I'm also working to be more consistent with my social media presence because that is also integral to successful blogging these days.  As a frequent subway rider, I sure wish my phone worked on the DC Metro so I could catch up on commenting during my commute!

 If you are interested in participating in Friend Friday, visit Modly Chic for more details.

Friend Friday: Beauty Products

It's been quite a while since I participated in Friend Friday, so since I'm finished with the winter 30 for 30 (my remaining pics will be posted this weekend), I can refocus on answering Katy's great questions that always seem to be relevant to things that are running through my head at the moment. I've been spending time lately thinking about how I'd like to tweak my beauty routine, so these questions are very timely.  So, let's get down to my answers:

• What's your favorite drug store makeup product and your favorite higher-end product? First I'll list the main products I use on a regular basis: MAC Studio Finish Concealer, Bareminerals SPF 15 Foundation, Bobbi Brown Blush Stick, Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Bronzer, MAC Haute & Naughty Mascara, CO Bigelow lip gloss.  My favorite "drug store make-up product" is Almay liquid eyeliner.  It really applies quite nicely and lasts all day.  I occasionally put on MAC Prep+Prime before applying my make-up products, but I don't do this on a daily basis.  My favorite higher end product to indulge in on occasion is lip gloss.  Regardless of whether I am wearing full makeup or not an any given day, I am rarely without lip gloss.  These days when I want to splurge, I occasionally purchase Dior Addict lip gloss or MAC tinted lipglass which are a bit more pricey so I consider them to be "high-end." Though I love eye shadow, I rarely wear it unless I'm dressing up for a special occasion, but I've found some great colors at my local drug store and tend to stick with the Revlon brand when I purchase new colors. 

• Is there one type of product that is your go-to, can't live without? I don't mind buying inexpensive versions of most of my beauty products, but I really prefer to wear Bareminerals SPF 15 foundation and MAC Studio Finish concealer.  Once I find foundation/concealer that matches my skin tone, I tend to stick with it.  But since the season will be changing soon, I might look into options that better suit my summer complexion.
  
• What's the best hair product you've ever used? To be honest, I think I'm still on a "quest" to find the 'best' hair product for my hair, but I do really like the Shea Moisture line of hair products that can be purchased at my local Target. Their conditioners are very moisturizing which makes my hair softer and more manageable.  I also like some Aveda products such as the Aveda smooth infusion glossing straightener for when I flat iron my hair.

• Fess up, what's the worst beauty look you've tried to rock and look back at now with a little shame or apprehension that you actually did that? I admit, that I have worn some pretty dramatic eye shadow colors in the past that are cringe-worthy. I think the main reason why I stray away from eye shadow is because I'm not the best at applying it and eye shadow can look very odd when not applied correctly.
  
• When it comes to beauty products, we all use the same basic products. What do you use that helps show off your personal flare and personality? I haven't been doing so much this season, but I love to show my flair with nail polish color.  I love bright and bold colors and plan to try some of the great "Do-It-Yourself" manicures that I've seen on various blogs lately.

If you interested in participating in Fashion Beauty Friend Friday, visit Katy of Modly Chic for more details.  

What are your go-to beauty products?

Friend Friday: Blogger Mechanics

Happy Friday folks! This week's Friend Friday questions focus on the mechanics of blogging. I am pretty simple when it comes to the technology I use for blogging. But the items that I use are quite integral to creating content for my blog. So let's get down to answering the questions!

1. What technology do you use in blogging? (computer, camera, video camera, tripod, etc...).
Camera: I use a Canon Powershot SD1200 IS. This camera does a pretty good job of capturing my images and I love the color (orange!). My goal for 2011 is to 'master' this camera, so I can move up to my first DSLR next year. I can't with good a conscience spend a load on a camera if I am not fully utilizing the one I already own!

Tripod: For the majority of my pictures, I use a Targus tripod I purchased from Target. I'd love to invest in a better tripod eventually, but for now, this one does the job!

Computer: I use my personal MacBook to do my blogging that I’ve had for about 2 years. I love my little MacBook and don’t see going back to a PC for my personal computer use anytime soon!

2. What computer and online technology do you use (blogging system, photo storage, photo editing tools, etc..)? I currently use a combination of Adobe Photoshop and iPhoto to edit my photos. I am a novice Photoshop user but I hope to improve my skills over the course of the year. I actually plan to obtain a certificate in print/web design because I discovered through maintaining my blog that there is so much that I’d love to learn about design and making my images look better! I currently store most of my photos for the blog with Flickr but have used Smug Mug in the past as well. I haven’t had any major issues with Flickr so far, so I’ll stick with it for now.

3. What is your process for taking pictures? I am a pretty novice photographer as well. I’m also pretty picky about my pictures, so rather than subject my friends/family/random people to requests to take my photos, I usually take most of them myself. I usually set up my tripod, adjust the angle if necessary and set the timer on my camera since I don’t currently own a camera remote. I’m self-conscious about taking photos in the sight of other people (I know…I must get over that), so if other people are around I usually hastily pack up my tripod and move on. I usually take a minimum of five shots before I stop. If I have more time I can take as many as 15 to 20 photos. It really pays to take my time with the photo-taking process, because when I rush, I tend to capture more images that are not usable.

4. When it comes to backdrops for your photos what do you consider? Do you scout locations or shoot the same spot daily? To be honest, I am not very adventurous in my photo locations. Whether I’m indoors or outdoors, I typically stick to a basic brick wall. I usually opt for a simple photo backdrop and keep the focus on my outfit. But as the days get longer with the arrival of spring, I definitely plan to change up my backdrops and scout other locations. There are a lot of beautiful spots and historical monuments (obviously, I live in DC!) in the city I'd like to use for my photos in the future. I'm also participating in Project 365 so I'd really like to capture more images in general throughout the year.

5. If you could splurge and get one new piece of equipment what would you be buying? I have a wish list of things I’d splurge on rather than one item. I’d love to eventually purchase a "beginner" DSLR camera, a camera remote and register for a beginner’s photography class. I’d also love to purchase a camera light and backdrop for my apartment. The lighting is not conducive to good photos in my home, even in broad daylight, so I'm afraid photos of where I live will be kept to a minimum on this blog. But for now, I’ll visit my local library for digital photography books, surf the web for online tutorials, save my pennies for a camera and patiently wait for spring to arrive so I can take my photos in natural light in the evenings or early mornings again.

Every blogger has different preferences on the equipment they prefer to use, but I say find out whatever works for you and go for it! Blogging is a good excuse to keep your technology equipment and skills such as photography and design current anyway! If you're interested in participating in Friend Friday, visit the creator of Friend Friday, Katy over at Modly Chic to learn more.

Friend Friday: What to Wear?

Happy Friday folks! This week's Friend Friday questions revolve around something all style bloggers obviously have a penchant for: outfits! Even if you aren't a blogger, what you choose to wear has implications on how you view yourself and also how others view you.

1. How do you determine what you will wear that day? To keep it real, my first consideration when determining what I will wear for any given day is seeing what’s clean : ) After that determination is made, I consider what the weather is predicted to be like, this is especially important in the extreme seasons of winter and summer. Not adding or removing a layer or clothing from an outfit in either winter or summer can possibly mean discomfort for the whole day. My last determination is what do I FEEL like wearing that day; I’m motivated by color on most days, so I think about what color I’d enjoy wearing that day. Some days, I simply feel like wearing the brightest color I can get my hands on and other days I really feel like wearing all black.
2. Do you plan outfits out in advance for a whole week, month, weekend? Unless I have a special event to dress for (night out on the town, wedding, formal event, business meeting, etc), I rarely plan out my outfits in advance. This is not necessarily a good thing because I often am running around my room trying to build an outfit, watch the morning news and fix my lunch all at the same time in the mornings and this can lead to getting behind schedule though I am typically a punctual person…smh. The only time in 2010 when I consistently picked out my outfits on a daily basis was when I participated in Kendi’s summer 30 for 30 challenge. I mainly picked out outfits in advance during this time period because I had to make sure the item I envisioned wearing was clean (less days to stretch until laundry day) and to make sure I didn’t inadvertently repeat an entire outfit.
3. Do you have any specific way of tracking outfits and items already worn so you don't repeat? I have no way what-so-ever to keep track of outfits and items already worn so I don’ t repeat….because I usually don’t care about repeating outfits. Let’s be real, if I can’t remember what I wore two Wednesday’s ago, will anyone else I interact with today really notice (or care) if I repeat a shirt or a dress? Probably not. I do try not to repeat outfits in their entirety that I’m photographed in though.
4. How do you discover new combinations of items in your closet? (Trial try-ons? Hanging items together?) When I have down time at home, I occasionally try on outfits so I can mentally note them for future wear. When I get inspired to try a look, I sometimes also draw or photograph outfit ideas in case I need the visual reminder. I really plan to draw/photograph/bookmark outfit ideas more in the future, I rarely wear certain wardrobe pieces because with me; it’s really ‘out of sight, out of mind’ when it comes to clothing/accessories. I’ve been toying with the idea of purchasing a dress form to house current favorite clothing items and accessories so I can see them better and also because I’ve had the goal/resolution consistently for the past few years to learn basic sewing skills. I’ll get around to achieving this goal one of these days.
5. To streamline the process for 2011 what is one new thing you can do to cut down your dressing time? In 2011, I definitely plan to get better at choosing outfits in advance. It’s a time saver and so silly that I waste so much time figuring out what to wear on a daily basis. I also plan to re-organize my closet so I can better see what I actually have so I’m not just reaching for the same items over and over.
   

If you're interested in participating in Friend Friday, visit the creator of Friend Friday, Modly Chic to learn more.

Have a lovely weekend!

Friend Friday: Measuring Up

Happy Friday folks! Hope you have sufficiently recovered from your holiday fun. I've already started plotting and planning all of the things I'd like to accomplish, I think 2011 is going to be the best year yet! To get the year off to a good start, here is my first Friend Friday post of the New Year!

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1. Have you ever looked at someone's blog and thought yours would never measure up? Just like anything else, it can become very easy to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others. This is especially easy in the blogosphere because there are SO MANY talented, creative bloggers out there; many of whom attain a lot of attention/success from their blogging. But blogging success will be different for each and every blogger and I hope to define it for myself.
   
2. Do you feel pressure to live up to some undefined 'standard' for fashion bloggers? I do occasionally feel pressure to live up to a 'blogging standard', but every time I begin to feel that way, I remind myself of why I started blogging in the first place; because I love writing, I love style and fashion and I love expressing creativity in small ways. I can only worry about being the best Shen Dove I can be. I've learned so much about fashion and style since blogging and am sure as I learn more that my blog will have more to offer to my readers, so that encourages me to keep plugging away.
3. Many established bloggers are also extraordinary DIY'ers, bakers, crafty people. Do you think you need to combine all of these things to be successful at blogging ? I don't necessarily think you need to do all of those things to have a successful blog. Though I so admire bloggers that can do all of those great things, I don't consider myself to be very crafty, so I don't see myself focusing on DIY or craft projects in the future on my blog, I'll more likely mention bloggers who've done fantastic things in those spheres so you can visit them directly to learn from their skills. But I do love travel, baking, art projects, positive thinking/goal-making, interviewing other bloggers, interviewing entrepreneurs and learning where to shop (on a budget!) in my city and other cities I visit, so those will become things I'll focus on going forward. I think bloggers should focus on topics that they really enjoy and if that happens to be baking, DIY, and crafty stuff, that's fab; but it's also okay to focus on other things as well.
4. The most successful blogs are the ones that have their own personal voice - how are you developing your voice or how did you find yours? I think the process of developing my own voice is still in progress, but I'd say my voice comes through in my writing style; I pretty much write the way I'd talk to you in person and I'd like to continue to develop my writing style as I blog more. I try to have my pictures or other visuals on the blog relate well to what I've written because I've always considered myself to be a writer/blogger first and creator of images (outfit photos, collages, etc.) second.
5. Toot your own horn...what's the one thing that is unique to your blog? What gives your blog an edge? My sense of style is a unique facet to my blog. I dress in away that accommodates my figure type, daily life and preferences and though I get my inspiration from many places, my style is really my own. Style evolves over time obviously and trends changes, but I think I'm always true to my personal aesthetic.

If you're interested in participating in Friend Friday, visit the creator of Friend Friday, Modly Chic to learn more!

Friend Friday: Holiday Parties

Happy Friday folks! December is really speeding by, but there's still some celebrating to do between now and New Year's, so this week's Friend Friday questions are quite appropriate. Here are my responses below:

Which holiday party are you looking forward to attending this year? I’m looking forward to attending holiday parties hosted by a few non-profit organizations I support because it’s an opportunity to connect with friends that believe in the same causes as I do and there is also usually opportunities to donate to charities or causes right there at the party. Parties are fun during the holiday season, but I think it’s also important to support organizations and causes that make a difference in your community through-out the year.

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What is your go-to holiday party outfit? My go-to holiday part outfit is a skirt, dark tights, heels/boots and a blazer. This is usually a fail-safe outfit that is also warm, which is a requirement for all my outfits during this time of year. After all, you can’t be so focused on looking cute that you freeze to death!

Do you go dressed in something that would be impractical to wear at any other time of the year? I’m a very practical dresser regardless of the time of year or the occasion. The only change in my holiday looks during this time of year is to wear my skirts that are a bit shorter because I can wear opaque tights and jackets over them if I want to go for a more conservative look. I have a few skirts that just don’t feel quite right without tights.

If you are going to a house-party what gift will you bring to the host/hostess?If my host/hostess don’t have small children, I’ll bring something like scented candles or wine; if my host/hostess does have small children, I’ll bring something more family-friendly like dessert or a game all ages can enjoy.

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If you could buy only one trendy piece to update your holiday party wardrobe, what would you get this year? I feel that I have enough clothing to work with to create a nice holiday look, so I’d get a statement necklace (preferably an original piece) because accessories can really change the whole feel of an outfit. As much as I love color, when all else fails, I can wear a little black dress, fantastic jewelry and black heels. That look will definitely stand the test of time.

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Friend Friday: Are you connected?

Happy Friday folks! Here are my responses to this week’s Friend Friday weekly questions.

1. How important do you think reader connectedness is to the success your blog? I think reader connectedness is an important factor to the (long-term) success of my blog. Reader connectedness is something that sets blogging apart from other expressions of creativity is the fact that it offers the ability to have a conversation with the people who are reading/viewing my content. I blog because I enjoy the process of creating (writing/images/etc.), but if I didn’t want to have a sense of connectedness to those reading my content, I’d probably just write/photograph outfits and inspiration for myself and not publish it on the Internet. I don’t think there is anything wrong with doing things either way, but I like the sense of connection that blogging fosters.
2. What do you do to draw readers in and create that writer-reader bond? I really just focus on putting my effort into creating content that would interest readers. Sometimes asking questions and encouraging readers to comment/interact with you is an organic and fun way to create a bond. Because the focus of my blog is personal style and inspiration, including photos of my personal style and photos of other inspiration are the main ways I try to initially draw potential readers in. I also try to comment on blogs I enjoy and reciprocate comments if someone leaves comments on my blog posts is also a blogger. There are so many bloggers (of all subjects) that inspire me. I appreciate each and every comment I receive and even when I don’t have the time to respond to comments, I hope my readers know that!
3. What is one way you could improve this connection? I see a lot of opportunities for growth personally in developing the writer-reader bond: Putting as much effort as time allows into improving content, extending the conversation by raising questions, offering ‘food for thought to readers’, maintaining an active social media presence are all things that can be done to improve the connection.
4. Is there a blogger you think does a great job creating that writer-reader bond? Why? I think bloggers Adored Austin does a great job of creating a genuine writer-reader bond. She makes references to feedback from readers in her content and gives thoughtful responses to comments which I think encourages readers to continue to visit.
5. What do you do to cultivate new readers? How do you get them to your site in the first place? I participate in web-based style/fashion communities and am always adding blogs to my Google Reader or on Bloglovin’ which is the easiest way for me to bookmark blogs to revisit; when I see content that a blogger creates that I have something positive to say about, I definitely leave comments. I’ve also made it a point to bring up my blog to people I meet IRL (which I find a little unnerving) and carrying business cards with my blog information. This is a very new practice for me, but you never know who you’ll meet! I always manage to carry cards around for my full time job so why shouldn’t I make it a point to carry my own personal cards around on a regular basis as well?

Have a fun, relaxing weekend!

Friend Friday: Blogger Burnout

Here are my responses to this week's Fashion Beauty Friend Friday questions:

1. How many hours a week do you spend blogging? Has that number changed since you started blogging? The amount of time I spend blogging on Shen Dove Style really varies and I actually maintain another blog as well. I’ve been blogging since 2008 and started Shen Dove Style in January of this year. When I first started blogging, I spent several hours a day writing content, researching ideas for posts, reading and commenting on other blogs. During this time I posted almost daily and sometimes more than once a day. I’ve stepped back from blogging that frequently and the time I spend on blogging is a variable number depending on my other commitments. I could spend anywhere from two hours a week to up to ten hours a week generating ideas for content, writing, taking photos, editing photos, responding to email, etc.


2. There is always more you can do, write, read, comment on... how do you limit your time spent on these tasks? I limit my time spent on tasks by really seeing what other things I must do for that particular day. I currently work full-time and attend school part-time, so if I have a homework assignment to complete, an exam to study for, or a meeting with classmates for a group project, blogging takes a back seat. I honestly struggle with time management when it comes to blogging which is rather strange because I am somewhat regimented when it comes to many other aspects of my life. One resolution I plan to implement in the New Year is to adhere to a content schedule and schedule my time to comment on other blogs, read blogs, generate content for posts, develop skills (like photography, design, styling drawing) and expand the focus of my blogging to include more life-style related items and interviews.


3. Have you experienced Blogger burnout yet? How have you dealt with that?Since I started blogging in 2008, I have indeed experienced blogger burnout before and simply have had periods where I’ve been uninspired and stepped away from blogging until I started to miss it. I went several weeks earlier this fall without updating my other blog and have just started feeling like I missed it and started posting again. I’ve stepped away from Shen Dove Style to focus on school deadlines from time-to-time and there have been lulls in posting, but they haven’t lasted more than a few days.


4. This time of the year is always a lot busier than any other time. Will your blogging change as a result? My blogging frequency will probably remain at its current level as I develop my plans and goals for Shen Dove Style for 2011. I'm not going ot stress myself out over posting, but I don't want to have long lulls in posting. I didn’t really enter 2010 with a plan for this blog other than simply launching it and being somewhat consistent with posting, but it’s time to step my game up and explore my creativity through my blog.


5. Could you forsee a moment in which you are not blogging anymore? How would you identify that it's time to walk away? I could see myself changing the focus and content of my blogs in the future as my life changes, but for the time being, I don’t see myself stopping blogging altogether. I’ve had positive experiences blogging and it’s been so fun to connect with people I would have never met if I didn’t start blogging. But, when blogging ceases to be enjoyable, then I’ll truly know that it’s time to walk away. I really hope I don't experience those feelings though!