BLOG BIRTHDAY #1

So today marks my blogs first birthday, a whole 365 days of blogging and a brand new layout. It doesn’t feel like a year, but I’m so pleased I stuck with it because this blog has become a big part of my daily life. I try to set a couple of hours each day to reading/commenting your blogs and i genuinely look forward to that part of the day. I find myself constantly thinking about what posts I’m going to do and what I'm going to write. I put a lot of time in to researching certain posts such as Lookbook of the week and answering your fashion related Formspring questions. Taking outfit pictures every few days has made me make a lot more of an effort with my appearance and I've now re vamped my wardrobe! It's also given me more confidence in myself and I've realised that you don’t need to look like a stick insect, have the latest designer gear and a crazy amount of ‘followers’ to be accepted in the blogging world. I started off with 0 followers, and a year on i have 1200+ people reading my blog. Something i could never have imagined, nor could i express just how thankful i am to have you all here.

What does VIPXO stand for?
VIP are my initials and XO means a hug and a kiss in the online world!

What made you start writing a blog?
I lived with 4 girls last year and it was horrible, it was the worst year of my life and it’s something I’ll never do again. Writing a blog was an escape, and it was a great place to talk to people with the same interests as me.

What tips do you have for making your blog better known?
Be original. As a reader I don’t like seeing repetitive blogs/ posts from different people but with the same content. It’s really not nice to see copycat blogs.

How often do you think it's okay to post and how'd you get ideas for posts if you don't have a new outfit to show?
I think it’s a personal thing. I know blogs that post everyday, some who only post once a week. I try to post at least 5 days out of 7. It all depends what I have on and what I want to blog about. If you’ve followed my blog for a while you’ll know that it’s not just about the outfit posts. I do blog other things too!

Do you ever feel pressure to blog about certain things in a certain way because of other blogs and bloggers, and how do you keep your blog current but also original and unique?
No not at all! Like I said before, if you’re going to blog make it different and stand out. I know there are a lot of blogs like mine, but at the end of the say it’s all about the writing style that makes them different.

Your often referred to as a ‘bigger blogger’ does that bother you?
I don’t get why it would bother me? I’m quite flattered people talk about my blog anyway, if they want to call me a big blogger then that’s fine because I'm quite content with the way I look. I just want to prove the point that you don't have to be a 'model' to write a blog. If i can give someone the confidence and inspire them to start a blog then i guess I'm doing something right.

What has been a highlight for you since starting your blog?
Making some pretty amazing friends! I honestly would’t be able to cope with some things people say to me if I didn't have a handful of these girls by my side. It's made me learn a lot about myself too and to not let things get to me. If i enjoy something i should stick at it, even if people don't always agree with what i say.

So once again, a massive thanks to you all for your continued support for me and my blog. I love doing this and wouldn't want to give it up for the world <3 br="br">