Recently, a couple of bloggers I follow have written about why they blog. I found it was interesting these two well-established and articulate women would write about the possibility of discontinuing their blogs at relatively the same time. Both Debbie and Rena reassured their readers they had no intention of quitting. Thank goodness!
So, what happens…
I have followed quite a few bloggers who just disappeared off the internet. One of them, Julia who wrote When the Girls Rule, retrofitted a van and was living the tiny home life the last time she posted. I cannot find her blog anywhere though she does have a Facebook page but hasn’t posted in months. And, you know what? I’m worried about her. I know she had a Patreon page, but I wasn’t a member. Maybe she’s still posting there. Another blogger was Jenny from something about polka dots (appropriate for today’s outfit). I know, through Shelbee, she has discontinued blogging and is pursuing her love of photography. Some bloggers let their subscribers and readers know when they’re going to stop. One of those is my former Weekend Traffic Jam Reboot co-host, Michelle, who had multiple blogs. I think she just wanted the time to follow her many passions of quilting, gardening, and making jewelry. Another blogger announced she was ending her blog but left it up for a few weeks. I can’t remember her name, but the blog was Thompson Hill something or other.
Grief…
It isn’t exactly grief I feel when these bloggers disappear. I think it’s more a feeling of dissatisfaction though that seems a bit intense. Maybe, it’s more that things just feel unfinished. I promise you, unless something really drastic happens, I will let you know when I’m done blogging! I’ve just paid out for this, that, and the other thing so I’m not going anywhere for at least a year!
My outfit…
Originally, I was going to write a post about transitional clothing. Just as it does every year, the weather turned warm once again. Next week, however, is another story! I knew I wanted to wear this dress and slip from Gudrun Sjödén that I bought late this summer. The dress has this flounce/tier/ruffle at the bottom. Unfortunately, what you can’t see is the lovely eyelet lace at the bottom. You can see the slip here with a completely different style dress. But, I wasn’t loving the round neckline. So, just as I did for Tuesday’s post, I added a scarf. I was actually looking for a pop of color, but I came upon this old black and white polka dotted scarf from Talbots. It’s a polka dot upon polka dot upon polka dot kinda day! It was warm so I didn’t bother with tights, either. I tried belting the dress to get rid of some of the volume, but the result was an increased emphasis on my bosoms! Trust me…I don’t need any help there! And, the Gudrun look is voluminous! This dress is woven cotton and would work well three seasons. I also have it in a beautiful green, but I’m going to slit it up the front and turn it into a duster.
The Lewk!
These are my Born combat boots. I bought them last year and really like how they are different from my other Born boots. They are nice and comfortable, too! Sometimes, I hesitate to use that word because comfort shoes used to be those clunky orthopedic shoes my grandma wore! Luckily, the shoe industry got the memo that women of a certain age may need comfortable shoes, but they also want cute ones! To continue the polka dot theme, I pulled out these old Stella & Dot earrings.
Wrap it up, Marsha!
Well, that was a bit of a tangent, wasn’t it? I do wonder, though, what happens when bloggers just leave. As I’ve discovered, there are different costs to a blog. I don’t know, maybe there’s a free way to blog, but I don’t know about it. Too late, though, as I’m afraid I’d lose everything I’ve done if I tried to switch! So, can we talk? Have you followed a blog for a long time only to have it disappear without a word? If you’ve ever blogged, did you consider stopping? How do you feel about polka dots? Yay or nay? Please leave me a comment or two, and we can talk. I promise to respond as soon as I can.
Thank you!
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Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, The Grey Brunette, and Away from the Blue as well as Deb’s World. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag, Doused in Pink, I do deClaire, Mummabstylish, and Style Splash. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month. I co-host Traffic Jam Weekend every Thursday with Melynda and Lisa. I also host Final Fridays on the last Friday of the month as well as 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!
Thanks for including me in your post today Marsha, I really appreciate it. I was worried for a minute you’d misunderstood my post and thought I was leaving the blogging world – but then I read it again! Like you I’m not going anywhere 🙂 It is a worry when people you’ve followed for ages just disappear so I promise not to do that, my husband has instructions to let people know if I suddenly drop off the perch and can’t blog anymore!
Lovely outfit, I do like a dot in fashion, you look great.
Thanks, Debbie! Oh, I’m sorry you were worried. I just thought it was interesting that two women I really respect were talking about the virtually same thing. I really should find someone to do that for me…my husband wouldn’t have the faintest clue even if I showed him!
Love this triple polka dot outfit! It might be one of my absolute favorites yet. In my 12 or so years of blogging I have seen so many bloggers come and go and yep some just leave without any thought; sometimes the blogs disappear over night and others times the blogs are left up for months and months with no content or messages until they too are taken down. I have quite a few bloggers that I’ve truly wondered what happened to them as it seemed like they were facing personal difficulties at the time too…
Oh, my goodness, Joanne! I didn’t realize you’d been blogging for 12 years! Wow…congrats to you for persistence at the very least. I do know a blogger with whom I struck up a friendship, and she decided to pause her blog as she’d taken on a new project after retiring. The other day, I tried to click on it, but it’s gone. I think, probably, what happens is the blog stays up until the hosting site closes it when it’s no longer paid for.
Thank you so much for the compliment! I wasn’t sure about this because there really is a lot of fabric, but I love polka dots so why not have three different kinds!
I know exactly what you mean. I’ve missed a lot of bloggers in the past 8 years. It’s a pity. I’m loving your outfit, it’s amazing! Polka dots always have something so cheerful and feminine.
Thank you, Nancy! I hadn’t thought about it, but you’re right! Polka dots are cheerful and feminine. They certainly make me smile. If I can come up with two or three in the short years I’ve been blogging, I’m sure you’ve seen several come and go. I’m glad you’re not going anywhere!!
I like to know when people are going to step away too, I feel like I get caught up in people’s lives and when they just stop posting, I worry too! This was so well written Marsha!
Your polka dots are fun and you wear this VERY WELL!!
xo,
Kellyann
Thank you, Kellyann. Jodie mentioned people just get busy and have to step away. She’s right, too, about how much time it takes to blog. But, I get invested in people and, like you said, I worry! I’m glad you liked the outfit. It’s really voluminous, but I love the aesthetic right now!
You look absolutely stunning in this polka dot dress dress. This black and white combination is definitely looking so pretty on you. Wonderful and Lovely Post dear!
Rampdiary | Fineartandyou |
theartdiary
Thank you so much, Jyoti!
Hi Marsha, blogging is such a wonderful world but sometimes life can get in the way. I love the connection but also it is a creative outlet for me. I’m inspired by others and what they write and that gives me ideas or pushes me to think. I’m a Sinatra fan too and also a fan of polka dots. We need to meet! LOL 🙂
Hahaha!!! Well, I wonder what the halfway mark would be. I have only been blogging for a little over two years, but I’ve been amazed at the community blogging creates. I thought most would think there was no need for another fashion blogger, but everyone has been kind and helpful. I particularly enjoy the Global Writing Challenge because it really does challenge me to think and write. Not only that, but I’ve learned so much about different cultures and people.
Thanks, Sue, for coming by!
It is always sad when someone stops blogging that you really liked following. I know one woman I was following ended up passing away and it was really nice that her daughter’s let everyone know.
But I can see how it happens. Your world changes a little you don’t have the time to invest and as we all know blogging takes a ton of time. Obviously some people make a lot of money from it, but those of us who don’t it’s a labor of love.
Now let’s talk about the outfit. The print mixing is absolutely amazing and I just adore the polka dots!
Xoxo
Jodie
Thanks, Jodie! I am so glad to have some polka dots back in my closet! Wow! I should probably set up something with my daughter or son to do the same. You never know. I am hoping Julia is OK because I always enjoyed her blog.
It is strange when your favorite bloggers disappear from the internet. It’s natural to wonder if they are okay. I stopped blogging for just over a year a few years ago, and I let my readers know. After a year break, I came back to it. Anyway, I love your polka dot dress!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Thanks, Jill. I can see taking a break and letting your readers know. But, unfortunately, a couple took an indefinite break. I appreciate the ones who hop on every once in a while just to say I’m still around but busy.
After blogging as long as I have (over 10 years now) I completely understand where you are coming from when blogs disappear. You have developed a relationship with them and miss them! I am not sure when I will stop, but I imagine I will have a post sharing that! It would be hard to completely stop after so long. Love your polka dots here, especially with the scarf!
Thanks, Laura! I thought the scarf was just the perfect finishing touch! Ten years!!! Wow! You must have been very, very young. I hope I last that long! You are so right…you form a relationship with the person even if they don’t realize it.
This double polka dot outfit is print mix perfection! I love the look of dots with dots when done this way – a tight color palette with reversed background/dot colors, differing size/scale of dots. I also get that niggle of worry when a blogger suddenly stops posting – is life just getting in the way? have they just stopped blogging? are they sick? or worse? I need to tell/train my husband to post something on my behalf if (when) I am unable to update because I don’t like the idea of worrying other people on my behalf!
Thanks, Sally! I really hadn’t intended to use that polka dot scarf, but I needed something around my neck. It worked out really well, I think.
It’s so worrying when bloggers stop. I am truly worried about Julia because one of her last posts said something about a change. Maybe that was a clue that she was done blogging. I will definitely have to write a legacy post and have someone ready to push the publish button!
I do like polka dots but I don’t like them on me. On you? They look amazing.
I have had bloggers I follow just stop without a closing post and I’ve wondered what in the world happened and even if they are alive. I had two just stop about a year or so ago and I miss their comments. They didn’t even come to comment on my blog any more. I did email one of them but couldn’t find a way to email the other one. I left her a comment and she answered that she’d had another baby and was simply overwhelmed. The one i emailed said that she had started getting more involved in a Bible group and other things and had simply walked away from the blog.
I did leave blogging for a long time and came back to it. In that break, some company bought my blog name as a domain and earlier this year tried to sell it to me for a few hundred. Ha! I decided it wasn’t worth it. I would have liked to have had boondockramblings.com
Thanks, Lisa. I love polka dots but don’t really have that many, either.
I think many bloggers have left because TikTok and Instagram are so much easier and shorter. But, I like reading things and seeing more than just a few seconds of this or that. I can understand walking away, but I do appreciate when the blogger lets me know.
Oh, that would stink to have your name pretty much stolen! I wondered why your heading was one thing but address was another. And, then to try to sell it to you? Wow…gutsy!
Every now and then I like to revisit old blogging friends just to see if, maybe, they’ve updated, you know, let us know what’s up. Especially after the COVID lockdown. I don’t like when people just disappear. I feel the loss, despite what they may think. On the other hand, I’m like, Daenel, no one owes you an explanation. But, yes, they do, I’m invested!! LOL So much conflict.
Such a great outfit. I’m loving the polka dot mashup. It’s just perfect.
Thanks, Daenel! I knew you would get it. You become invested in their lives, fashion, whatever. And, when they just disappear, you worry!
I take that as a high compliment because you are a fashion goddess, my friend!
Love your outfit. I think polka dots are so classic. They can be very classy or casual. I like the longer length as well.
I also hate when a person you have been following but then disappears without a word. It is like losing and good friend and not knowing why.
Thank you, Eileen! I haven’t had many things with polka dots for a bit. I was glad these the slip and the dress worked together. The scarf was just the cherry on top, right?
You are so right…it’s like losing a friend and never knowing what happened.
I remember two of the blogs you mentioned. I feel the same, there are a few others I miss and sometimes it’s as if their owners have disappeared off the face of the earth.
Love this outfit! It’s very playful and full of personality. Like you! Thanks for linking.
Thanks, Gail! I know it’s not what people think about as they blog, but it’s nice to know things ended happily ever after or not.