As you’ll have probably realised by now, I absolutely love blogging. Blogging gives me a platform to vent my opinions and frustration on sometimes, whilst also giving me a place to escape to. However, half the fun of blogging is not writing your own posts, or seeing the followers gradually increase (although this is amazing too) but reading other blogs. I spend hours trawling through the internet in the hope of finding a brand new blog to add to my reading list and recently, I’ve made several new ‘blog discoveries’ that are so fantastic, I simply had to share them with you. I’ve tried to include blogs that aren’t necessarily on the ‘main’ blogosphere in the hope that you can hopefully find yourself a nice new blog to read without it being the same predictable list. I have chosen a variety of ‘big’ bloggers and smaller blogs, picked for their content only and not their readership.
Xia Xue
Wendy began her blog ‘Xia Xue’ in 2003 after her paper diaries were carelessly thrown away by an ex-boyfriend. With over 40,000 people flocking to her website every day, the Singapore blogger typically writes about her fashion interests, her ongoing ‘bid to be beautiful’ and local issues. She has sparked controversy in the past for her provocative language, which some have said may be offensive to her younger audience however in my opinion – she’s just a very truthful, ‘realistic’ blogger. Similarly, Xia Xue has sparked debate over the amount of plastic surgery she has indulged in over the years – transforming her from an ‘ordinary’ girl into someone she feels more self confident about. I personally love her blog because she is so brutally honest, doesn’t mince her words and she knows her readers well. I like reading blogs with an opinion and it’s really interesting to read about her journey. Although she is very well known in the US and in Asia, the UK are still yet to really discover her properly!
Great if: you love a bit of controversy, love being nosey and don’t read blogs for the ‘intellectual value’. Wendy is extremely honest in her blog and it’s refreshing to read about someone who doesn’t try and sugar coat what she wants to say. In my eyes, she is Singapore’s Perez Hilton – with a bit more of the personal stuff thrown in!
Not so great if: you hate reading ‘sponsor’ filled blogs. Wendy (Xia Xue) had her entire wedding sponsored in 2012, with everything from the dress to the food and the venue being given to her free of charge in return for posting about it on her blog. To say it was an extravaganza is a slight understatement. Not everything on her blog is sponsored, and just because the stuff is free – it doesn’t mean she’s always nice about it – however it is primarily based on products that are sent to her. Similarly, if you don’t like people over-photoshopping themselves, you might not been so keen on Xia Xue’s blog, as she regularly admits that she photoshops her photographs quite extensively to achieve her ‘perfect self’. In recent months however, Wendy has actually undergone plastic surgery, ‘correcting’ the areas she photo shops.
Read her blog – here.
Similar bloggers: Dawn Yang, Michelle Phan, Perez Hilton.
Victoria Tornegren
Whilst I don’t necessarily ‘seek’ out bloggers who write in another language (as I’m lazy and can’t be bothered to click Google translate), Ann-Victoria Tornegren’s blog is definitely worth taking a look at. The 19-year-old Swedish model has such a chic, minimalist style and always manages to look comfortably flawless. Her blog makes for very addictive viewing, especially as she has such a consistent, distinct style!
Great if: you love ‘outfit’ blogs and prefer as little text as possible. Victoria does translate the majority of the text she does write into English for you, however she rarely posts more than a few sentences. If you love picture heavy, fashion inspiration blogs – then this is definitely worth a read!
Not so great if: you enjoy personality, a bit of ‘banter’ and a few witty remarks on a blog – as unfortunately, this doesn’t really feature on Victoria’s blog. Whilst many outfit bloggers choose to share interesting parts of their day in their post, Victoria keeps hers short and sweet – which is okay for some, as the attention is focused on the pictures (which are amazing).
Similar bloggers: The Londoner, Fashion Toast, Jazzabelle’s Diary.
Read Victoria’s blog – here.
Taza and Husband
Written by Naomi, a young New York mother – Taza and Husband (also known as The Rockstar Diaries) records the lives of the most idyllic and adorable family I’ve ever seen. Naomi isn’t overly ‘gushing’ or over the top in her blog, but she provides readers with a realistic account of life, what it is like living (and staying sane) with two children under three and what she plans to do to her new apartment in the big apple. Originally she began the blog as a way of sharing bits and pieces of her newly wed life with family and friends, but since launching the blog in 2007, the readership has just continued to grow.
Great if: you love reading about family life, love photography and wish to spend an hour or so pouring over the adorable portraits of Naomi’s family. She provides an account of her somewhat idyllic life, but with a realistic touch. It doesn’t feel over the top or try too hard. It’s just a really lovely, well presented blog.
Not so great if: you prefer more corporate style blogs. Taza and Husband is a very personal, family orientated blog which caters for a specific niche. If you don’t particularly like reading family blogs, with family portraits rather than outfit posts – this probably isn’t for you.
Read Taza and Husband – here.
The Briar Rose Blog
There are hundreds of UK blogs that I like to keep up to date with, so it has been really difficult picking just one to feature in this post. One blog I haven’t been able to tear myself away from recently is 19-year-old Megan McMinn’s ‘The Briar Rose Blog’, as it is a mix of chic photography, gorgeously affordable outfits and a regularly updated well written account. Her blog has a very ‘dreamlike’ fairytale feel to it, from her style to her recent Disney Land engagement story. Another thing I did notice after scrolling through her archives is that Megan looks strikingly similar to Ex-TOWIE Star Amy Childs. In fact – the resemblance is uncanny. Not only is her hair the same colour as Amy’s but she has the same cheekbones, eyes and lips! What do you think?
Great if: you love chic photography, a blog with a pretty face behind it and a good level of wit and intellect behind the writing. Megan is an English Literature and Creative Writing student and her writing talent certainly comes through in her blog. I really love Megan’s unique style, as she is one of the very few people who can pull off such vibrant hair – yet make it look so natural. On occasions, I have found myself scrolling through and considering whether I too should dye my hair a similar colour. I have talked myself out of it. But she looks amazing!
Not so great if: you like a bit more ‘nit and grit’. Megan doesn’t tackle any world issues or talk about any real life problems. The blog has a very idyllic, dreamlike feel to it (which I personally love) but some people might find this a little tiresome after a while. We want to hear all the juicy stuff too!
Read Megan’s blog – here. Megan is also currently keeping a ‘wedding’ blog, posting inspiration and photographs for her upcoming wedding to her ‘childhood sweetheart’ in 2014. She admits that at 19, she is perhaps a little too young to get married but that it is right for them. Her ‘engagement photoshoot’ is the cutest thing.
Similar bloggers: What Olivia Did.
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All Pro Waiter
Having been through several rather painful waitressing jobs, whereby I was promptly told that I was not a ‘natural waitress’ – I can certainly sympathise with the accounts written on this blog. Not only are they all extremely well written, but they are hilarious – and I have literally sat for hours at a time scrolling through the various stories of different waiters and waitresses reporting on their fussy customers.
Great if: you have ever been a waiter/waitress and have endured the long, painful hours a job in the hospitality industry demands – not to mention the fussy customers that come through the doors every day. You will feel very at home reading the hilariously well written accounts of what a day in the life of a waiter entails, and if you have a story to share – you can contribute!
Not so great if: you hate tipping in restaurants or regularly complain about bad service, after reading this blog you will start to feel very guilty indeed (or perhaps angry instead!).
Similar bloggers: Stuck Serving, Waiterant.
Visit the blog – here.
Skinny Taste
I love food blogs, however I always seem to be reading them whilst I’m hungry (cue – mouth watering). I guess this isn’t a problem, but when the blog is full of calorific recipes that I attempt myself, two things go horribly wrong – they are usually very difficult to follow and I consume my entire calorie intake in one sitting. So, when I discovered Skinny Taste it was a relief to see a blog filled with healthy, flavoursome dishes that I could pour over, without feeling guilty.
Great if: you love reading food blogs, yet want to actually try the recipes out and stay on your diet. You want an online resource for delicious, fat-free recipes, that include both the calorie intake and the Weight Watchers points for each recipe featured.
Not so great if: you prefer chocolate covered, calorific recipes and HATE dieting.
Similar bloggers: D’lish, Chez Pim.
Visit the blog – here.
Disclaimer: please note that none of the images used in this article are my own and I do not take credit for them. They are used purely for reference purposes and each are taken directly from the blog that I have written about.
