Blogging is hard

This blog is lengthy, so go grab an organic snack and buckle up.

Listen guys, blogging is not for the weak or faint of heart. 

It's a really awkward, questionable, public display of vulnerability, in which you basically in so many words say, "WHAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT / FUNNY ENOUGH TO SHARE WITH THE WORLD."

We all know it's not. We all know blogging is more for the blogger than for the audience. The audience will always be there, going back for more, whether they're reading it out of general interest in the blogger's life, because its content makes you feel a certain way whether it's comic relief or embarrassment for the blogger (we come from a generation that reads/watches media just so they can hate-read/hate-watch).

For me, the hard part about blogging was never the actual "blogging" part. I have a list on my phone and drafts-saved galore of ideas and half-baked starts. Ideas and inspirations are easy. Challenges come when it's time to hit "publish," dedicating time weekly, and most of all...

NAMING THE BLOG. NAMING. THE. FREAKING. BLOG. 

Let's take a brief little trip down memory lane. Put on your hazmat suit. 

August 2009. 
I had an idea that my high school friends and I should all start a blog and write about college experiences to help us keep in touch. In reality, I was the only one who wanted to do this, and so I did it. I called it "Outrageously Ruby" because "outrageous" was a word I oft used in this phase of life, and "Ruby" is my middle name. This blog is a tragic representation of me at 19, and is another reminder of how thankful I am social media (especially Instagram) wasn't a part of my middle school days (OR ELEMENTARY DAYS OH GOD). I only posted on this baby 25 times, and there is a "fish pond" on it, that I really can't even bring myself to talk further about. 

July 2011.
I began to dabble my knock-off designer toes into the waters of "wannabe fashion blog." Thus was born "Runs With Lipstick." I meant it to be like an indian name. RWL. It was kind of tragic, but I had good times on there. It really birthed some gems. 

My run-in with a suicidal asian and the poh poh. 
That time I went on a bad date.
When I wanted strong eyebrow game.
Obsessing over the Jenner sisters.
Feelings on my ugly iPhone case.
When I did a 30-day clean eating challenge.
Blogging The Bachelor, season Sean Lowe.

What was supposed to be a fashion blog became a place I would just blog all the thoughts in my head or weird life experiences. What was supposed to be a release for fashion became a release to write what I thought was funny. 

WHY IS FASHION BLOGGING SO HARD DAMMIT WHY CAN'T I JUST BLOG ABOUT FASHION I LIKE SHOES AND PRETTY THINGS HELP

I really didn't want to blog about my life. I had always cringed a little when bloggers got too personal in blogs. BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WAS DOING. GETTING RLY UP CLOSE N PERSONAL. 

June 2013.
I had just graduated college, moved to Dallas and started a part-time internship when Fashion Food Frivolity became a thing in my life. It was a Saturday. I didn't spend a lot of time thinking about the name (thinking about things and being patient isn't my forté) — I just wanted a blog that would NOT be about my life. I was so happy with FFF. I love the initials FFF. I was like GREAT I LOVE FOOD AND FASHION AND I'M SO FRIVOLOUS IT HURTS THIS IS FUN YAY FFF FFF FFF FFF F FF FFFF F F F F . 

It wouldn't be a personal blog, i told self, it would be about exactly what it says: Fashion, food, frivolity. I figured "frivolity" could be the catch-all for when I didn't want to blog about fashion or food.

As it goes, the whole blog has been frivolity. Futile attempts at fashion and food happened, but really, the whole blog was another PERSONAL recounting of things in my life, with my own weird-humor spin.


THE MAIN REASON I STARTED FFF:
I needed a substantial blog I could put on a resume that would display my interests, writing, personality, and flair for social media. I wanted a job in fashion/writing/social media, so I created this blog and social media accounts for it. I thought if I could get this sucker going, I could gain first-hand experience in social media marketing, paid social media advertising, all while having fun trying and failing on my own blog.

I went through a moderately embarrassing bout of posting on FFF instagram, facebook, twitter, and then stopped doing so because a full time job is no joke and i'll never know how people find time for their children.

With my internship at the time only being part-time, I thought FFF would be a perfect summertime hobby.

On its first day, I tweeted about how much I loved one of Man Repeller's latest posts. Then something extremely bizarre happened.

man repeller herself retweeted me. 

i said to me, i've made it. this is it. i'm at the top.

ugly typeface FFF logo i kno leave me alone

My cute little FFF blog was still in its zygote phase, and a bad ass as famous as MR had found it and retweeted it. LIKE WUT??????? like wut i say

Fast forward one month after I started FFF.
The part-time internship became a full-time job. Blog became less about a resume-tool, and more of a writing outlet about personal thoughts and life-happenings. Exactly what I didn't want it to become L O L

And here we are. And by "here" I mean "ready to start a new blog with a more accurate title" and by "we" I mean "just me, just the one."

Yes, yes, you read that correctly, yes, I want to start a new blog, with a title that ACTUALLY reflects content. Me and my dumb thought etc. 

Potential blog names in the running:

• It's fine etc
• It's casual etc
• Señorita Sassy
• 23 is hard
• 20s is hard
• drunk at work etc
• chic is hard etc
• chic happens
• so chic it hurts etc
• i'm fine it's fine etc

Clearly, I'm a fan of saying "etc" and "hard" and "chic" and being pretty. This next blog will be two things: Personal/funny recounts of thoughts/life-happenings and on WordPress.

Fact: I had full intentions to start this new blog today, but a fellow blogger and much wiser friend advised me to sleep on it, saying she, "THIS IS A BLOG, NOT A PAIR OF SHOES." Help me I'm hasty.

Truths about blogging

Any blogger will admit to feeling the following things. Or they will feel it, but not admit to it. Or I'm the only blogger in the world who feels these things and I'll die alone.

1. I'm embarrassed about 98% of my blogs.
2. Self-deprecation (or self-sabotage?) is required.
3. Hearing "I'm the biggest creep, I like all of  your blogs" never gets old, and it's not considered "creeping." 
4. It's awkward saying "Thank you" when someone says they love your blog. thanks i love my blog too, i'm rly obsessed with me.
5. You don't forget it when a guy tells you he "fell for you through your writing." This is not often, because get real, but it happens.
6. Asking certain friends (you know, the ones who get it) to read your blog and make sure it's actually funny before posting it is a common, insecure, and encouraged practice.
7. You automatically bond with other people who blog.
8. A friend who likes your blog on Facebook is a true friend and many blessings will rain upon them.
9. Blogging takes a really really really long time, and then once it's published, I read it 10 more times.
10. I read my old blogs when I can't sleep. And I laugh. And I cringe. And I go to sleep.
11. When a friend you haven't talked to in months texts you asking for a link to an old blog, it's like you talked yesterday.
12. You don't want everyone to read your blog (parents, grade-school teachers, mom's friends, current/potential employers, ex-boyfriends, crushes, gyno, neighbor, cashier at Kroger), but you still somehow want to go viral.
13. You've thought about contributing to BuzzFeed but it sounds exhausting and if you're not famous after your numbered list of gifs after the first two attempts, there's no hope. It's all rigged. Blame public relations.
14. You both put a lot of scrutiny on other bloggers, but also avidly support them, because you get it. youjustgetit.
15. All of your friends commonly tell you, "DON'T BLOG OR TWEET THIS," because you are that girl and you know it.
16. You blog and tweet things you know you shouldn't, whether for the sake of a career or sheer embarrassment  but you do anyway, because the story is just that funny.
17. You do questionable things solely because "it could be good blog material."
18. Everything inspires a blog post. And by everything, I do mean everything. Literally. Everything.
19. You'll be inspired to blog at inconvenient times. IT'S 11:33 PM BUT I JUST THOUGHT OF A BRILLIANT BLOG AND I CAN'T SLEEP UNTIL IT'S DRAFTED.
20. You'll wrestle with Google Analytics and try to bribe your 46 closest friends with a job in anything remotely-advertising related. (coding is hard help).
21. There is no such thing as being satisfied with the design/template/color palette, but your blog ideas can't wait on your poor design skills to be published.
22. You semi live in fear of being sued for using a gif/photo from the internet without properly giving credit. You use the gif/photo anyway.
23. A boyfriend isn't a boyfriend unless he reads every single blog and worships it and you and you writing it.

23 seems like a fitting place to stop. Be on the lookout for a new blog bye.

Things I did while I wasn't blogging

hi. IT'S BEEN A WHILE. I know you already know this because you've had a lot of sleepless nights over it, but just to put an exact number on it, I HAVE NOT BLOGGED IN OVER THREE MONTHS. ya, let that soak in.

There have been a few futile attempts to whip up a post in the past few months, but for one reason or another, there was never a click on that "publish" button. So this blog is going to be my shot at doing a wrap up of the past few months, and hopefully a start back to regular blogging because I have some topics up my sleeve (more excuses to talk about myself and basic things of the such).

Here are things I did while I wasn't blogging:

1. Tweeting really important things. 

i'm being serious

i spent hours meal prepping just so i could attend like 831 work happy hours the same week it's fine

it was 2 p.m.

it moved me

see i told u

more on this later. 

I WENT ACTUAL VIRAL ONCE IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL

this is important

#AWintersTale #ABadMovie

you know

i thought my TV was broken for a whole weekend until I called someone and they told me how to work the remote. TV is rly hard 

you know???????????????????????????????????????????????

2. Making effing incredible Spotify playlists

So like, idk what it is, but God blessed me with the gift of music curation, that's all i'm saying, i'm not bragging, i'm just saying. 

I'm into this really hipster thing you've never heard of cuz ur basic called "electronic R&B". Here it is. I'm listening to it now in fact.

It was one of my goals to get into worship music over the summer because I've honestly never liked it that much lol. This isn't something I would typically do, but I have really amazing friends who push me to do things like this and so here I am. Here are some christian songs I can actually deal with, and a few I'm basically chronically obsessed with, so here you go. (some aren't technically "christian" but when I hear them, it just makes sense to go in this playlist because i'm a music scientist and i know these things ok go with it)

3. Casually just getting in car wrecks etc.

Ya. I was in Addison driving my car (balla, shot calla, 20 inch rims, on the 2009 BLUE CHEVY IMPALAAAAA) with two friends. I wasn't texting, or drinking, or anything illegal (except being criminally good looking), and I was crossing the toll road, trying to get to Gloria's, facing the sun, and ran into another girl kind of head on. It was rly kewt (everyone was fine calm down) A cop came and did whatever cops do in those situations and we couldn't decide whose fault it was so it was fun. Don't worry, the Impala was still intact enough to make it to Gloria's afterwards because #thereisaGod.

Oh. also. Whilst my car being in the shop, I had to rent a car. A car not of my choosing. Usually I'm excited when I get to rent a car from the Chevy dealership, because you know, driving a car that's not yours is fun etc, well. I WAS HOPING TO RENT A CHEVY MALIBU BECAUSE I'M A MOTHER IN MY 40S, BUT INSTEAD THEY GAVE ME A CAMARO.

A CAMARO.

A. C A M A R O.

It's fine if you drive a Camaro, I get that, it's a hip car, sure, but sometimes I just don't want to lay on my back while driving a car, and sometimes I want to see out of the windshield, idk, i'm old fashioned i guess idk.

4.  Moving apartments by myself up three flights of stairs with no elevator etc

And when I say by myself, I mean with 2 men I paid, but yeah, you get it. And before you give my blog a judgmental look, I'll have you know, I OWN A COUCH AND WASHER AND DRYER AND THAT SH*T DOES NOT MOVE ITSELF. okimdone

5. Connecting the dryer cord to the wall

This was an actual ordeal, but I survived to blog about it, and I'm seeking support groups with people who've been through this experience as well.

23 is hard

6. Posting photos of my ankles on Craigslist and looking for new ones

Ya so this is a great story. Shortly after moving to an elevatorless apartment, I sprained my ankle. walking. on flat surface. in flat shoes. WALKING IS HARD. It's an ordeal of a story that I would feel comfortable telling you over drinks that you buy me.

So, yes, I got in a car wreck, moved apartments, and sprained my ankle all within a 30 day span because 23 is hard.

The following video is how i walk in flats. Also, I've seen this like 18 times because it's that funny.

halp

7. Being interviewed by the Dallas press

Well, I have a friend who also blogs, and sometimes, I'm in them, because I'm famous, and her blog is famous. Kind of. I mean, Taylor swift liked her photo on instagram, Chris Harrison tweeted her, and Brad Paisley follows her on Twitter, but it's seriously whatever, it's actually not a big deal.

This blogger, let's call her Paige, because that's her actual name, blogged about the night I sprained my ankle.

And about the night we Oktoberfested.

And about how to land a man (this actually has nothing to do with me, but I'm an eye witness and contributor to all these things so read it).

Her blog is called "Just PMSing" because PMS are her initials, and I'm explaining this because I know my mom is reading this and about to text me asking questions.

8. Freelance writing. A lot. 

Sometimes i blog about the bachelor for free, and sometimes people pay me to blog about things.

I wrote about...

• How to explain social media to ur mom
• 3 easy dinner recipes because i know everything about easy dinner recipes
• Passionate people
• Alternative flooring 
• Homecoming mums because I definitely DID NOT have to google the word "mums" before writing this
• Desert recipes that are kiiiiiind of healthy
• Memorial day so actually i wrote this in May but whtvr
• Karaoke and i love this blog
• Men's fashion because i'm a man and i'm stylish

LOOK OUT FOR MORE IN OCTOBER K GREAT THNX

9. Seeing famous ppl

This is Aretha Franklin TEARING UP DAT PIANO. She isn't touring, she was singing just for a benefit. It was kind of surreal when she sang "Respect," because, I mean, come on. America. I feel thankful I had the opportunity to see her.

I saw the queen. 

Ryan Tedder of One Republic. He sang "Apologize," and I was happy. 

I got to go to most of these concerts for free, because friends of a friend, ticket drop outs, etc , I'm not a millionaire, don't get it twisted.

I WAS LITERALLY THE NEXT TABLE OVER. he is just as good looking in person, and so sweet. This was at Nobu, where I was for a friend's birthday. She got a pic with him. We all talked about Tech. He asked me to marry him. Lalala.

10. Shopping 4 vinyl

I bought a record player one fine Saturday afternoon and it's kind of life changing. I bought my first record that same day. Robert Johnson. I just felt like it was a good "I'm a white girl buying my first record" album. (also, pls go buy all your records at Bill's Records on Lamar street in Dallas because he is the best).

As fate would have it, my brother-in-law owns a ton of records that he doesn't use anymore. And gave them to me <3<3<3<3 with frames <3<3<3<3 and they're pretty<3<3<3<3. 

11. Obsessing over history

There is no other way to say that, and I get that I'm the absolute biggest loser within a 3 mile radius off uptown right now. I read all of Genesis in August, and watched The Bible TV series in 2 days, and it just kind of kicked off this really weird itch to know about everything B.C. I've never read Genesis start to finish before and it was an experience.

You can ask my roommate, who has to deal with me recording things about "Solomon's secret treasure" and "The History of the world in 2 hours" and all things Egypt and Old Testament.

It's like grossly carrying over into my social media habits. After reading stories from the Old Testament, I would go Pinterest for images of art depicting it.

Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. This story and how Lot's wife turned to salt blows my mind a thousand times and I have zero idea who painted this so don't ask. 

BB CONTEST, JUDITH IN FIRST PLACE, AMMIRITE

In addition to my newfound obsession with the Old Testament and all the things history, couples perfectly with the fact that during this time my church did a series called "Skeptical" and it was more or less life changing and earth shattering, but that's neither here nor there.

11 is a good number so i'm going to stop k good talk everyone

Happy birthday, FFF! Lulu Lemon giveaway

I've always wanted to host a giveaway on my blog. Well it just so happens this month is my blog's birthday! FFF IS TURNING ONE AND GETTING SO GROWN UP. I'd also like to celebrate the success of my recent post, "All the thoughts I have at the gym." People shared it on Facebook, and it went over well with my blog's analytics. 

Quick FFF fun facts

• 1,186 people have read FFF in 2014.
• Since January, the average visit duration is 2 minutes.
• The most successful post written in 2014 was Episode 5 of The Bachelor, Juan Pablo.
• 32 countries have read FFF this year.
• Top 5 reading cities are: Dallas, Lubbock, Houston, New York (???), and Carlsbad (COME ON, HOMETOWNERS, I EXPECTED BETTER FROM YOU.
• Less than 1% of you read FFF on your phone, which is truly fascinating and bizarre, because Gen Y.
• The top mobile device used to read FFF is the Apple iPad, by a long-shot.
• Facebook (like most things in life) is the top referral source of traffic.
• The Man Repeller retweeted my blog the day after I created it. It was a bizarre out of body experience.

The proof is in the screenshot.

In honor of FFF's first birthday, and the success of the gym blog, I will be giving away a pair of Lulu lemon pants to one lucky blog subscriber. How do you enter to win this prize, you ask? Subscribe to my blog. There is a little square on the top right corner that is happy to take your e-mail.

5 Reasons you should subscribe to my blog:

• The obvious reason being so that you can be notified IMMEDIATELY with an annoying e-mail, that will probably end up in your spam folder, after each time I publish a new post.
• Because you hate The Bachelor and The Bachelorette but you can't stop obsessing over who Andi is sending home.
• Sometimes you get bored at work and you need a 3 PM blog pick-me-up. You fear your boss will catch you reading the word "ass" on my blog, but you're a risk taker with a severe wild streak.
• Did I mention I'm giving away LULU LEMON to one lucky subscriber.
• LIKE I'M LITERALLY BUYING A SHIRT AND MAILING IT TO A SUBSCRIBER. 

How this works

• I will list all people who entered, assigning each of them a number. 
• I will enter the number of entries into random.org.
• That website will legally choose a random number, and that person will be styling at their next gym sesh.
• I will e-mail that winner, and announce him/her on Facebook. I will order the size/style of that persons choice!
• I'm going to message you on Facebook if you shared my "Thoughts at the gym" post. You're entered, honey!
• I'LL PICK A WINNER FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!

I'm going to type that in a bigger, bolder font. 

I am going to buy the winner Lulu Lemon pants the size and style of her choice.

But Augusta, what if a dude wins?

LOL. K.

Insta-lately

Can't stop myself from posting what I'm wearing, eating and being inspired by. 

FLOWERS, STRIPES AND PEANUT BUTTER, Y'ALL, WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE HERE????

100 down, WORLD POPULATION TO GO.

100 people are now following The Frivolity on Insta & Twitter, y'all. 

A special holler to those who have decided to follow/like/read FFF. I really want to do a giveaway soon, and all that will consist of is you following FFF on insta/Twitter/fb and leaving a comment that you're doing so, and you'll be entered to win a kewl lil som'n som'n. I promise it will be a sassy gift that I'll be proud to give slash would want for myself. That's what legit blogs do, right??? Giveaways??? Bribing people to read and follow their blog with material objects??? COUNT ME IN!!!!!

you're a pal and a confidant~!~~~~!