New Blog Name, New Me

So, you may have noticed that the blog name has changed from Southern Belle, City Style to
Southern Belle Redefined.  As I'm going on my Biggest Journey to reinvent myself both physically and mentally, I wanted to reinvent my blog.  I've written everything from tech blogs to book blogs to fashion blogs, but I have found that it is easier to put this all into one lifestyle blog.  Many of you may remember my blog Coffee & Literature.  It was (in my opinion) a pretty successful book blog.  But I realized I had other interests other than books.  So, next I created Southern Belle, City Style, which dealt with fashion, celebrities, beauty, girly stuff, etc.  But it became somewhat overwhelming to deal with two blogs, especially since Coffee & Literature was more popular and required much more time.  So I stopped blogging all together for a while. 

Although I've never been the most consistent blogger (yes, I'm really working on that...), I missed it.  So I decided to close Coffee & Literature and consolidate everything into Southern Belle, City Style.  It worked quite well, but something was still missing.  I was blogging about everything Southern Belle-ish, everything books, and everything fashion on the same blog.  That was fine, but the blog name didn't fit the blog anymore.  So a few weeks ago, I decided to change the name of the blog.  I went around and around to so many different names.  Finally I came up with Southern Belle Redefined.  "Southern Belle" because that's what I am, born and raised.  "Redefined" because I wanted to express what it means to be a true Southern Belle today in the South.  It means being cultured, knowing about everything you want to know, and being yourself.

With the new blog name comes some of the same and some new.  I am bringing back book reviews and will focus on everything--from good Southern novels to non-fiction about fitness and everything in between.  I've already got several ready to go.  I'm also going to continue the series on The Biggest Journey.  It may not be a weekly series but I'm going to work on it.  I'm also going to blog about my life, too.  Not everything, but some things people might find interesting, such as our travels and reviews of things we do on our trips and different things like that.

So, this is now a lifestyle blog.  At this point in my life, I think this is what fits me the best.  I hope you continue reading it, and please leave me some comments! 

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New Blog Look. New Me.

Hi, everyone! Did you think I'd abandoned you? I promise I haven't! I had a very stressful and trying 2013 and didn't have much time to dedicate to blogging or videos much to my dismay. I'm currently working from home so I hope that changes now! I hope to have some YouTube filofax/planner/gillio videos up soon as well as maybe an office tour since several people have asked for that. I've got to clean it up first, though! :) I was also very surprised to be asked to review Carole Radziwill's (of Real Housewives of New York fame) book The Widow's Guide to Sex and Dating so I hope to have that done soon, too. But I just wanted to make sure you knew I hadn't abandoned blogging, so look for some new things coming soon!

Filofaxes, Quality Control, and The Planner World

So, I posted part of this as a reply to a post on the Philofaxy Facebook page, but I also wanted to post it here as a blog post to get thoughts, as well. So bear with me as I'm thinking "aloud" here about quality control, Filofaxes, ring mechanisms and general planner stuff.

Here goes...I'm beginning to think that there isn't just one company at fault when it comes to binder issues such as ring mechanisms, and that it's just quality control everywhere. I don't thing the faulty issues can just be blamed on Pens and Leather or Goldspot or other retailers or necessarily Filofax themselves (although the customer service whether good or bad from each of these can certainly be blamed on them!)

I've had DayTimer, DayRunner, Franklin Covey and even Kate Spade planners with gapped and misaligned rings, too, but I think it is more often seen with we Filofax users because we actually get together and talk about it, or at least those of us who follow Philofaxy do. We take pride in our planners and even collect them--something I don't see other planner users doing to the extent we do. In fact, I for one never even looked at the rings of my old binders from these other brands at the time of purchase, but I went back and sure enough, these issues were there in some.

I'd say the majority of people buy planners for personal or business use without much thought to the planner's make and mechanism or whether or not it is in perfect working order. And while we also buy them for the same uses, we are a particular bunch who expects quality for our money (AS WE SHOULD). It may not necessarily bother the other buyers if there is something wrong as long as the binder still just works decently for the purpose they want, just as it actually may not bother many Filofax users who aren't part of our groups. This could also account for Filofax's 1% comment on the response from the petition several of us signed and sent to them. According to them, "Whilst there has been lots of comments about ring mechanism quality in the social community in recent months, we do believe that as a percentage of our total worldwide production, these issues amount to less than 1%." (See full post on Philofaxy.)

We as Filofax users among the Philofaxy group see our planners differently. Don't get me wrong, as I think we should see them differently and demand quality, but are we in the planner-buying minority as far as thinking about quality control? Maybe so, I have lots of friends who use different planners and have paid as much as we do for Filofaxes, but they see them as just a planner that is for the use it was made and don't worry about whether or not the rings are misaligned or gapped.

Of course, I absolutely think we need to keep on Filofax about quality control, and we should also keep on the retailers about quality control and customer service, but I worry that we are in the minority about all of this, so I wonder know fast Filofax will work on the issue. I hope, as rest of you do, that they get if fixed quickly and correctly, and I do not blame anyone who gets upset at getting a defective binder. I do sincerely thank Steve and the rest of the team from Philofaxy for always making sure to keep us updated on talks with Filofax and actually making some progress, and I thank Kate from The Life of the Perpetual Student for getting the petition together. I hope we can eventually make some progress with them.

These are seriously just random midnight thoughts, but with all the issues with every Filofax retailer and Filofax themselves, it just got me thinking. None of this post is meant to anger or offend anyone, and I apologize if it does. I just wanted to get my thoughts out there. Personally, I will continue to use my Filofaxes as I do love them, and I like their range better than other planning systems. I would like to try maybe a Mulberry or Louis Vuitton organizer eventually, but for now Filofax still makes me happy.

Happy Filofaxing!

Planner Fail & Filofaxes

So, believe it or not, I think I'm in PLANNER FAIL!!! GASP!!!  I know that several of my Filofax friends on Philofaxy and other places have experienced the same thing.  I started really thinking about the fact that I'm in planner fail yesterday after I filmed my Filofax Organization Tote video.  I have spent so much time buying stickers, tape, inserts, dividers, and other stuff, that I have actually neglected my Filofax and really have no idea what I'm really using it for.  I watch Filofax videos quite a bit, and I am always on Instagram and Flickr looking at everyone else's set up.  But I really don't give much thought to my own set up and how it should be so that it really works for me.  I looked at my calendar and found out that I don't really have a clue what I really want to use it for.  I write down random things that when I look back make no sense.  I desperately want to use my Filofaxes, which should be evident by the amount of them I own and keep buying...

So, I thought about a post on Imysworld that I read a while back about the Filofax Circle of Life.  I thought, well, that's a good place to start.  According to the ever-wise Imy, there are five stages to this circle of life:  (1) Baby Filofaxer, (2) Young Filofaxer, (3) Middle Age Filofaxer, (4) Mid-life Filofax Crisis, and (5) Mature Filofaxer.  So, I looked again at these stages to see where I stood in the Filofax Circle of Life.  I have decided that I am somewhere in a mix of Middle Age Filofaxer to Mid-life Filofax Crisis.  Why did I pick these?  Let me explain...

I genuinely LOVE Filofaxes, I really do.  Even with all the ring issues and other Filofax problems, I really do love the Filofax lines and the binders and accessories.  And I love to be organized, but it seems that recently I'm so disorganized I don't know what to do.  I've owned two (very expensive) Franklin Covey binders and several other cheaper binders in my time, and none really compare to the love I have for Filofaxes, but alas, I still can't seem to find my groove with them.  I enjoy blogging about them and making videos and such and I love having one with me all the time.  But I can't seem to find my true reason for using one.  I'm no longer in the administrative position I had at my job (really long story that I won't get in to) so I don't have appointments.  I never think to write down the fun things or not so fun things that happen in life randomly in my binder.  I keep buying journaling cards, sticky notes, washi tape, stickers, and the like to decorate and use in my binder, but I can't seem to find the perfect way to use them.  I also keep buying Filofaxes, and if you are a Filofaxer, you know this is not a cheap hobby.  I have over 20.  Yep, over 20 Filofaxes.  Do I use them all?  Nope.  But I have managed to sell a few, but that only funded other Filofax purchases.  So what's a girl to do?

I've decided that I'm going to sit for a few days and "research" exactly what I need a Filofax for.  Appointments? Family stuff? Journaling? What?  As I always do, I'll be present on YouTube, blogs, Philofaxy, Facebook, Flickr, etc. looking at everyone else's setups, uses, and Filofaxes, but I'm going to sort of sit and see...How do these folks use theirs and what do I really need mine for?  I'm hoping to also put a few ideas down on paper and brainstorm to see what I really need a Filofax for and what I like and don't like to use them for and what I like and don't like to keep inside mine.  I'm hoping I get a jolt of inspiration that leads me to a whole new way of Filofaxing, and if that happens, I'll definitely share here and on YouTube!  Thanks for listening and if any of you are in planner fail, I can totally sympathize!  Happy Filofaxing!

Liebster Blog Award Nomination

A big THANK YOU to Lori of Purple is My Happy for nominating me for a Liebster Blog Award.  So exciting!

So what is a Liebster Award?

Pretty much, the origins are a mystery (or at least that's what I could--or couldn't--find about it).  Bloggers nominate other bloggers who have 200 or less followers, and I guess I qualify...actually I really don't know how many followers I actually have!!  :)  This award is really a great way to read other blogs and find out which ones you like and enjoy reading.

There are a few "rules" to being able to "accept" the award, so here goes:

1. Post 11 random things about yourself
2. Answer the 11 questions from the tagger
3. Create 11 new questions for the 11 blogs you nominate.
4. Inform them by commenting on their blog.
5. No tag backs!!

 

So here are 11 random things:

1.  I have always wanted to study paleontology and become a paleontologist.  If I ever win the lottery, I'm totally doing this!
2.  I majored in History in college, but had enough hours to teach English, so that's what I do.
3.  I graduated college in 3 years instead of 4.
4.  I am obsessed with Filofaxes!
5.  I have been to Walt Disney World 17 times (I think) since 2004. EPCOT is my favorite park and the Grand Floridian is my favorite resort.
6.  I played tennis in high school and college.
7.  I have played the clarinet and saxophone for over 20 years.
8.  I can sing well (especially gospel), but I rarely get a chance.
9.  I collect Bibles and other religious texts.
10.  I LOVE Harry Potter!
11.  My home office has hot pink walls.

 

Here are the answers to the questions from Lori:

1. Are you a morning person or a night person?

Totally night!!!

2. What do you do for a living?

I am a teacher.

3. What is your favorite book of all time?

Oh this is a tough one!  Probably, The Great Gatsby.

4. What is your favorite dessert?

I'm not a big sweets person, but it is hard for me to turn down vanilla cake/cupcakes with plain buttercream icing!

5. What's your favorite kind of pen?

It is a tie between the Frixions and Coletos.

6. Do you drink coffee?

YES!!!

7. What is your favorite breakfast?

Pancakes (from Cracker Barrel), Fried Eggs w/ Toast, Bacon, and some sort of potato.

8. How many siblings do you have?

None, I'm an only child.

9. What kind of cell phone do you have?

iPhone 5

10. Share a favorite memory.

Winning the WBBJ educator of the week, which is always given as a surprise.  One of the administrators made the WHOLE school come in my classroom under the ruse that they were in trouble, but it was a set up for the award.  The door was shut and there was total silence in the room and suddenly the TV cameras came in and announced I'd won and I totally was shocked and cried!  One of my students had nominated me and I got to see the letter she wrote and was on TV and everything.  So much fun!

11. Who is your best friend?

Probably Erin.

 

Here are my questions for the nominees:

1.  What is your favorite quote from a movie or book?

2.  On a scale from 1-10, how organized are you?  (Even sometimes we filofaxers may not be as organized as you think!)

3.  What is your favorite type of coffee (or drink if you don't like coffee)?

4.  What is your most and least favorite book you've read?

5.  What is your favorite song?

6.  How long have you been blogging?

7.  Where would your dream vacation be?

8.  What is your favorite type of animal?

9.  What kind of computer (and/or tablet) do you own?

10.  Do you have any hidden talents?  What are they?

11.  What is your favorite Filofax (or other planner) that you have?

 

Now, finally, for my nominations (in NO particular order!).  This will be really, really hard as I think some of these may already be nominated, but hey, it's all in fun!

1.  Imy's World

2.  The Life of the Perpetual Student

3.  My Purpley Life

4.  Filomaniac

5.  Organized Heaven

6.  PaperPensInk

7.  FiloCuteness

8.  Well Planned Life

9.  The Wonderful Life of Alice

10.  My Filo World

11.  Anita Lim

Thanks again to Lori for my nomination!  I hope that everyone has fun with this!!

Filofax Compact Regency - 2013 Setup

Hello, all!  Recently I did a YouTube video about my Compact Regency Filofax as requested by a few Filofax fans on twitter.  In it I explain how I set up my Compact Regency & how I choose what goes in my regency.  I will soon be doing a blog post about my Regency, too, but until then I wanted to post the video so you could all see it.  BTW, it is my very first Filofax video on YouTube!  Enjoy!

-Kristy

My Filofax Week #1 & #2

I'm getting a late start on Paperlovestory's Filofax week blog posts, so I'm combining Week #1 & Week #2.  We are into week #3 already, but I'll be posting it probably Saturday as that's when I've got time next.  You can CLICK HERE for her first week (which is awesome, by the way!).  You can also still join in with this Filofaxish fun by CLICKING HERE.  Lots of us are joining in so you should, too!  If you want to check out some others who have joined, see the list here.

So why did I decided to join you ask?  I thought this would be a fun and interesting way to keep my blog updated weekly and let everyone see a bit into my personal life (but not too much, notice the smudged out parts.)  So, here are my first two weeks (as I said, I was behind), with a special glimpse at my monthly calendar, too!

[caption id="attachment_207" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Filofax-January 2013[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_208" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Filofax, Week #1[/caption]





[caption id="attachment_210" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Filofax, Week #2[/caption]





So, you probably noticed that I have LOTS of decorative tapes, stamps, etc. filling my filofax.  Why?  If I have a slower week (or I forget to write in my filofax *gasp*), I fill up the empty days with my stamps and washi tapes.  It gives me something pretty to look at and makes me happy, and there are days that's a very good thing, especially if I've had a particularly long or rough week at work.

So, I hope you've enjoyed my first (and second) My Filofax Week Posts!

What's in my Personal Regency?

It's here!!  My first "official" filofax post on Coffee & Literature.  So exciting!!!  I know you are just as excited as I am, right???  Thought so!  :)  For my first "official" post I wanted to do a sort of introductory filofax/what's in my filofax post.  I just got a new Personal Regency in Brown, and I LOVE it.  But it does have a small ring issue on the third top ring, so sadly, I think it may be going back next week (Filofax, please work on quality control of rings!!!).  But I do have a Compact Regency I can use until I get a replacement. Anyway...here's how I'm using my filofax at the moment.

Here's my beauty! I really love this filofax.  The leather is so soft and has an ostrich type pattern on it.  It lies COMPLETELY flat out of the box, which is one of my ideal filofax qualities.

Here's what you see  when you first open her up:  I keep my student ID (grad school), a cute panda gift card, some sticky tabs, a modeS4U business card, some random gift cards, and some of my business cards are tucked in the long pocket.  On the clear flyleaf I've decorated it with some stickers--pandas (my favorite!!), sock monkeys, Bambi, Pooh Bear, etc.  The pink glitter behind it is just a piece of card I cut into a divider.

Moving on...I've got some cute colorful star stickers and the personal filofax organizer stickers.  I use the stars for blog posts and the organizer stickers for, well, what they're intended for.  You can also see my sheet where I keep up with my washi tape to see what I've bought.


For my diary, I use month to view and week to view in 2 pages per week, cotton cream.  I love the paper quality on the cotton cream.  I use stickers and stamps and washi tape to decorate the inside of my diary.  I love my Hello Kitty stamps!


I also keep a few A4 size sheets in my filofax for necessary purposes and I just fold and punch holes in these so they fit.  Easy as pie!



And finally (I do have other stuff in there but it's rather boring) I have a clear envelope in the back where I keep vouchers, receipts, tickets, stickers, everything.  Here is what is currently in the back pocket: neon arrows, Spongebob stickers, metallic star stickers, colored dots, a voucher for an Etsy seller, my ticket from Condoleezza Rice's speech at my university, and my Aerosmith/Cheap Trick ticket from last week (so much fun!!).



I hope you've enjoyed my little filofax tour!  Let me know in the comments what you thought and also any other posts you'd like to see.  I also have a YouTube channel that only has one or two non-filofax related videos on it now, so let me know if there are any videos you'd like to see, too!  Happy planning!
-Kristy

An Update...Blog Changes

So, I've had this wonderful blog for a while now--since June 6, 2010 to be exact. I've blogged about books, techie stuff, bags, journals, and other things. I've had lots of readers and met lots of great authors through my blogging experience. In that time I also started another blog--Southern Belle, City Style--about fashion, makeup and such. I've enjoyed that one quite a lot, too. I've met great people and done great interviews!

But after thinking about it for a while, I've decided to make some changes to this blog. I've grown and changed as a person, and I have new interests (ever changing, probably). I wanted to leave Southern Belle, City Style alone as it deals with specifics, but I gave some thought to changing Coffee & Literature up a bit. So, let's explain...

I'm one of those crazy folks obsessed with filofaxes, stationery, and the like. I love reading about them and watching YouTube videos about them. So, after much thought, I decided I wanted to blog and maybe video about them, too. But I was in a bit of a situation...I didn't know if I wanted to create a whole new blog dealing with filofaxes, planning, and such or if I wanted to change Coffee & Literature. I'd already done blogs on here about things other than books so I thought, well, I've already got this blog going and pay for the domain name and hosting and such, why not use it?

So, that's what I've decided to do. To those who liked my book reviews, I'll still be doing those periodically, but with my promotion (I'm now an Academic Dean) and going back to grad school (again, for an Ed.S. this time), I don't get to read too much, but I'll still try to do some every once in a while so keep watching.

So, to sum it all up, I've decided to make Coffee & Literature more of a personal blog where I do all sorts of posts about mainly filofaxes, stationery, & books with a little personal stuff thrown in. To really make it "personal" I've taken off all monetizing things and such, and I've deleted the facebook page for the blog. So now, I think I'm ready to blog again. I'll forewarn you, though, that I'm still keeping the whole "new blog" idea in the back of my mind, but I'll let everyone know before I do.

Happy reading & planning!

Wow...it's been a while!

Wow. I didn't realize how long it had been since I made a post. Things have been a bit crazy at home and work. A big "I'm sorry" to my followers! I'll make this a short post so I can hopefully get to some reviews before bed. It's summer and this is the time I'm usually posting up a storm, but I've gotten promoted at work and I'm working on another degree so my time is, sadly, limited. I've been reading quite a bit, though, so I hope to get lots of reviews up when I have time. I'm hoping to get organized so I still have time for blogging since I love it so! Anyway, look for lots of reviews coming soon!

-Kristy

Q & A with Hadley Hartz, a True 'Southern Belle'

One of my favorite reality shows that I've seen was the show Southern Belles: Louisville that aired on SOAPNet in the summer of 2009.  I loved it because it was filmed in Louisville (my second home and where my mother-in-law & sister-in-law live) and because it seemed so much more real than shows like the Real Housewives series and similar shows.  If you watch the show, you can tell that the girls are all very real and are great people.
After starting my 2nd master's degree this year, In one of my classes we were asked to do a Q & A interview.  I thought about who I could interview, and one of the first people who came to mind was Hadley Hartz from the show.  I knew she had started her own fashion blog recently, and I thought she would be the perfect person to interview.  I wasn't sure if she would be able to do an interview with her busy schedule, but I was so surprised and thrilled when I got an email back immediately saying she'd love to!  So we set up a time to talk and here is the awesome interview I did with Hadley, and I can say that she is awesome, too! And here is the interview!  Enjoy!

A few years ago Hadley Hartz was just a regular girl in Louisville, Ky.   She was working as a personal assistant for a local film producer when she was given the opportunity of a lifetime.  She was asked to be one of the stars of the show “Southern Belles:  Louisville” along with Kellie Frey, Shea Johnson, Emily Gimmell, and Julie Smith.  When the show ended in June 2009, Hartz had been able to discover what she wanted in life through her opportunities on the show.  Now a professor at Jefferson Community and Technical College, the 29-year-old has expanded her resume to include fashion and beauty blogger.  The blog is called Hadley’s Reality, and through it Hartz has seen even more doors open for her.

Q.  How did you end up as one of the cast members of the SOAPNet reality show, “Southern Belles: Louisville”?

A.  While the show was holding casting calls here in Louisville, my boss and I went out with one of the show’s producers, and he made the comment that I should have my own TV show.  A few months later, he called and said that ABC/Disney wanted me for the show, and I thought he was joking.  I was so surprised!  I did the interview with them and was added to the show.

Q.  What was your experience as part of the cast of a reality show?

A.  It was actually a lot different than I expected it to be.  It was not as intrusive as I thought.  They just asked what they could film each day, and they pretty much stuck with that.  Filming did take a little longer than I thought it would at 8 months, but it was a great experience.

Q.  Do you still keep in touch with the girls from the show?

A.  Definitely.  In fact, I just had lunch with Kellie the other day.  I see Emily a lot, too.  Julie moved to LA, so I don’t get to see her anymore, but Shea, Kellie, Emily and I are still here in Louisville.

Q.  How has your life changed since the show?

A.  Being on the show actually opened up a lot of doors for me.  It was interesting to see yourself on TV through a different set of eyes.  I finally saw that I wanted to pursue teaching, and it helped me realize what I really wanted in life, especially in a man.  Now, I’ve got a really great guy, and I love him.

Q.  How did the show help you decide to start your blog Hadley’s Reality?

A.  Being on the show helped me become better known here in Louisville and in other areas, too.  I was constantly getting questions about what I wore on the show, my makeup on the show, and things like that.  Eventually, I thought that instead of just constantly answering questions individually, I would make a website so that everyone could see what they needed.

Q.  You always have really great fashion finds on your blog.  How do you determine which ones you want to post on there?

A.  Believe it or not, it’s actually pretty random.  I love finding the great discounts at the vintage and thrift stores, so I’m always excited to share a great deal with everyone.  I think there is an art to vintage shopping and I love sharing that with everyone.

Q.  Do you enjoy shopping at the vintage and thrift stores more than department stores and boutiques?

A.  Absolutely.  The other stores are great, but for the price tag, I think about how many clothes I could have at a vintage store.  I remember buying a dress for the show that was around $500, which is probably the most expensive outfit I own.  I always look at it and think about how many other things I could have gotten.

Q.  What are your favorite fashion items to shop for?

A.  Purses would be number one.  You can get a great leather purse for around $4 at a vintage store, and if you bought the same one in a department store you’d pay $50 or more.   The items I’d pick next would probably be belts, long skirts, and high-waisted pants.

Q.  What would you say your favorite outfit is?

A.  My maxi dresses are my favorite because they are a whole outfit by themselves.  You can dress them up or down, and they go so easily from summer to fall with the right accessories.

Q.  You also blog about makeup and beauty products.  What are your favorites in those?

A.  I love having a tan, and I always go for the faux tan instead of tanning beds.  I used to go to a local tanning salon and get the spray tan, but then I discovered a product by L’Oreal that is a gel tanning product that is great.  For makeup, I am in love with Bobbi Brown products.

Q.  What is your day-to-day makeup routine, and how do you switch it up for nights out?

A.  There is actually a huge difference from what I wear to work and when I go out.  At work, I normally don’t wear much makeup, and my hair is usually up.  I want to make sure I look clean and sophisticated since I teach at a college. But at night, I go all out.  I usually wear my hair down and curled, and I always make sure to put on great makeup.

Q. What are your top fashion and beauty tips?

A.  Definitely number one is dress for your body type.  We all can’t wear the latest fashions, and we shouldn’t try.   If it looks good on you, then wear it.  If not, don’t.  Also, always wear heels to look taller and thinner.  And when you are taking pictures, always do a “skinny arm” pose.  Put your hand on your waist or hip where your arm is away from your body.  You’ll look thinner all over.

Q.  You obviously love fashion and beauty.  Do you think that you will ever pursue a career in beauty and fashion instead of teaching?

A.  I love teaching, but teaching doesn’t necessarily let you make big bucks.  I’ve always wanted to open up my own vintage store like the ones I shop at on Bardstown road here in Louisville, but I’ve always been nervous about it.  But recently, someone approached me about starting my own purse line, so I’ll be working on that soon.

Q.  That sounds like a great opportunity.  Have you gotten started on the purse line?

A.  I actually already decided on a name for it—Haute Little Mess.  I am planning on selling them locally in Louisville first, then branching out online, and finally my own store.  I’m really exited about it.

Q.  Do you have any final tips for other fashion and beauty bloggers?

A.  I see so many blogs where people write what it seems like they think other people want to hear, but I find that if I’m truthful about everything I write, people enjoy reading the post more.  Be true to yourself, and you’ll definitely be successful.

Thanks so much again to Hadley for letting me do the interview!  Good luck with Hadley's Reality & Haute Little Mess!

So Long, Armchair BEA 2011!

Well, being on vacation beginning on Thursday evening didn't mesh well with trying to blog during Armchair BEA 2011.  I was so wrapped up in trying to pack and then finally getting to Orlando that I neglected my "blogging duties," which resulted in poor participation on my part.  To the fabulous organizers of this year's Armchair BEA, thanks for making this such a great week for so many, and I'm sorry I didn't get to fully participate as I wanted to!

I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading everyones posts about blogging, books, & everything in between, and I hope a few of you enjoyed mine!  I hope that next year's Armchair BEA will find me as a complete and total participant even if I have to sit in the car all the way to our next vacation destination with the laptop, iPad, or iPhone attached to me so that I can keep up!

With all of that said, I'll give you a couple of links so that you can find my Armchair BEA posts:

Armchair BEA

Coffee, Books, & Armchairs (Armchair BEA, Day 1)

Best of 2011 (so far...) Armchair BEA, Day 2

Those are my Armchair BEA 2011 posts.  I hope to do MANY more next year, so until then...Happy Reading & Happy Blogging!

-Kristy

Armchair BEA

After this week, I'll be off for the summer and I'll finally get to some of the reading & blogging I've put off these last few months. So, how am I going to kick off my back-to-blogging summer?  With Armchair BEA! What is this I speak of you ask?  It is a virtual book blogging convention that follows Book Expo America & the Book Blogger Convention.  Obviously, since I won't be off work until the end of the week I can't attend the real convention in NYC, so this is perfect.

There is an official agenda for the virtual convention bloggers beginning on May 23 to May 27.  There will be daily themes, interviews with bloggers, giveaways, and more.  So if you're a book blogger, check it out!  Make sure to keep checking back on Coffee & Literature for updates and my contributions to the daily posts!

-Kristy