by JTwisdom | Dec 22, 2010 | From the Heart |
Photograph by JT
Photograph by JT
My family and I celebrated Christmas early so that we all could be together. We had a lot of fun and ate some scrumptious food.
The menu
Macaroni and Cheese
Fried Chicken
Vegetables
Cole Slaw
Deviled eggs
Chicken Gizzards
Savory Yukon Potatoes
Pasta Salad
My mother-in-law made tasty breads and cookies.
Dessert menu
Peanut Butter cookies
Pecan Balls
Walnut cookies
Sugar Cookies
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Boston Bread
Pumpkin Bread
Didn’t I say it was a tasty menu.
As the years go by I realize that it’s not about the gifts it’s about the love of having your family and friends around you that matters most. Gifts fade but strengthening relationships is what will last.
Merry Christmas!
by JTwisdom | Dec 17, 2010 | FBFF, From the Heart |
Photograph by JT
It’s time to celebrate and enjoy family and friends. I can smell the aroma of the cranberry bread which is on top of the stove in the picture above all over the house. The macaroni and cheese is cooking in the oven. This is the time to try a new recipe I found in Cooking Light with fontina cheese. Oh! and lets not forget the dressing and cornish hens to make the day festive.
Sounds delicious!
Wait what’s a girl to wear for the holidays with all the family, friends and delicious food around.
Well I am definitely not going to wear a sweatshirt with a Christmas tree with automated lights smacked right on the front of my chest with a switch attached to the cuff like a gizmo from a 007 movie that causes the lights to go on and off. Did I actually have a shirt like that? I will never tell. Maybe one day.
Well lets get to the questions for this week.
1. Which holiday party are you looking forward to attending this year?
My family will be getting together this Sunday because that’s the time when most of us will be in town. I spend most Christmas holidays with friends or my husband’s family because my family is quite small. Both of my parents are deceased now however they both loved Christmas and decorating to set the occasion. The joy of Christmas has transferred over to me to also decorate and watch every year on DVD a Charlie Brown Christmas, Frosty The Snowman and Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.
2. What is your go-to holiday party outfit?
I must admit I am not a party animal. I do like to dress up though and I love to dance. Most of the family gatherings I will be going to are casual so I would look completely out of place in a formal or all over sequins. Not all but the majority of the attire of my family is mostly jeans, sweatshirts, sweaters, plaid shirt, tennis shoes and maybe a boot here or there. Now some of the younger family members (the young ladies) dress more on trend to what’s “in” now but that’s about it. And there is nothing wrong with that at all because sometimes-outdoor sports like football is being played or they just want to be more relaxed. As for me I am casual too but I always try to make the extra effort to look cool because I am not only representing myself but also my husband.
3. Do you go dressed in something that would be impractical to wear at any other time of the year? Depending on what you mean impractical.
Impractical: An outfit that would be considered to over the top for a particular event.
I wear sequins during the day-time so I will push the limits. I love getting dressed up so during the winter holiday season we had our Church anniversary in 2009 and we went all out. My husband wore a tuxedo and I wore a lace dress with grosgrain straps and I had gold heels with bows on the top. I felt pretty and it was such a nice event.
Photograph by JT
4. If you are going to a house-party what gift will you bring to the host/hostess?
www.philosophy.com
Philosophy Gingerbread Man Shower & Bath gel.
www.oliviacare.com
Olivia olive oil soap
Everyone doesn’t drink alcohol so this kind of gift is so universal. When I give gifts to friends and family like this I always get asked where did I get them from so they can buy it for themselves when they run out.
5. If you could buy only one trendy piece to update your holiday party wardrobe, what would you get this year?
According to Style.com gold is the trend for Fall 2010 Holiday.
My trend pic is this beautiful dress from Carolina Herrera. I can see myself dancing with my husband the night through.
Photograph credit: www.style.com Designer Carolina Herrera
I am sorry but it is so hard to pick just one. First off I am loving this Alexander McQueen dress. OMG! The shoes!
Style.com Designer Alexander McQueen
I really like the look of gold and deep hues on my complexion.
Some of my favs from www.style.com
Photo credit: Style.com Designer: Aquilano.Rimondi
Photo Credit: Style.com Designer Balmain
Photo Credit: Style.com Designer Blumarine
To get more tips on holiday trends click on the link below that will take you to FashionMagazine.com that will show some cool styles for holiday.
Enjoy!
http://www.fashionmagazine.com/videos/fashion/style-studio-holiday-dressing/
If you would like to see what other FBFF bloggers are saying please stop by Katy Rose blog,modlychic.
by JTwisdom | Dec 15, 2010 | From the Heart |
Photograph by JT
Photograph by JT
Getting ready for the holidays is right. I love Christmas! I love seeing the snow falling on my face when I am outside watching it fall.
My hubby and I put up the tree decorations on Sunday and Monday.
I really love this Louis del Olio jacket because it is not only warm but oh so chic with its different color embroidery. Paired with jeans this jacket is tops in my book.
by JTwisdom | Dec 14, 2010 | Around the Home, Fashion |
Photograph by JT
Photograph by JT
Photograph by JT
It has been really cold the past two days as I am writing this it is 8 degrees in my neck of the woods.
I am loving the hat I am wearing it’s cool and so warm. Yes you can be warm and cozy and look chic at the same time. This hat is from a company by the name of Cumberland and they have been around since 1917 so they know a thing or two about hats and outerwear.
I had to go outside for a bit to enjoy the snow with my hubby and my doggies.
Stay warm out there because it’s been oh so cold.
by JTwisdom | Dec 10, 2010 | FBFF |
KatyRose topic of questions this week is reader connectedness which I think should be the heart of each blog. If you would like to read what others have to say please stop by www.modlychic.blogspot.com.
Okay here goes…..
1. How important do you think reader connectedness is to the success of your blog?
I think it’s important to have reader connectedness; but I also think that it’s great to have good content because if you have good content readers will come. It’s give and take because you have to research your material to get a good story.
I often have friends telling me they are following my blog although not virtually following it by clicking on a follow me button or subscribing to one of my communities so I know that people are reading.
2. What do you do to draw readers in and create that writer-reader bond?
I really haven’t done market research on how I attract readers in. I officially started this blog because I love fashion, beauty and hair care and I thought that I could offer some good tips and offer hair care advice. Even a year later, I write because it’s fun and enjoyable, not to formulate a technique to get people to read my blog. This blog is about sharing information on fashion and beauty that can help someone.
3. What is one way you can improve this connection?
-I think I would like to spend more time reading other blogs and commenting more. I have commented on some blogs that have never commented back on mine and I don’t want to do that. I want to make sure that when people comment on my page I need to make the effort to comment back.
I said it in the above paragraph but I really would like to comment more.
On IFB there’s the comment challenge and I think that’s awesome because that’s a way we can build the blogging community and it’s a bit of self promotion as well. I will not leave simple post like “cute blog”. I want to make sure I leave a comment about the post I have read not just leaving a comment to get someone to look at my blog. I think that a comment is spam if it is not related to the post that you have on your blog that someone is responding to and I delete those comments. I have often made solid comments on blogs to not have that blogger to comment on mine, but that’s their prerogative.
I map out the chain and then it makes it easier to carry out this goal.
Fashion Blogger—>Research—->Write Content—->Publish—>Reader-Connection—–>Comment
This seems simple but I realize that I have to read between the lines to make the connection.
4. Is there a blogger you think does a great job creating that writer-reader bond? Why?
It’s hard to choose because I enjoy so many. I think KatyRose of www.modlychic.blogspot.com does a great job because even though everyone cannot comment on everyone’s blog since there are so many, bloggers come together to post on one topic every Friday and a group has been created with new bloggers joining everyday. Other Blog communities I love being a part of is Blogfrog, SITS, The Lady bloggers Society and Blog Catalog. Being personable like a warm cup of tea is oh so nice. Veshoevius of Taxonomy of my wardrobe and Grit and Glamour are blogs that I also think give that connection to their readers. I know that I have learned a lot from all these women.
5. What do you do to cultivate new readers? How do you get them to your site in the first place?
To cultivate new readers I comment on every comment I receive and I post fresh content at least 3 to 4 times a week so it keeps the blog current with new material. I do what I love to do and if a reader request for me to write or do a video on a particular topic I will make an effort to do it.
Sometimes I feel out of the loop because I work a full-time job so I can’t comment during the day and when evening comes the discussions have already been going on long before I am able to get on. Can’t let that stop me though.
To increase readership to my site:
- I respond to every comment unless I am at work and can’t give feedback until the evening.
- Joined communities like Blogfrog
- Having a window for readers to subscribe to my blog via email
- Subscribe via bloglovin
- Subscribe via blog catalog
- Recently created a Facebook page
- Included the Kind-Hearted Blogger to my blog
I must continue to show the world my tips on how to be fashionable!
Photograph by Jason
Follow!