A few days ago I received the Stylish Blogger Award from Sandra at Always Well Within, a fantastic blog about personal development, wellness and wisdom that’s part of my inspirational blog list.
The award celebrates style, elegance and beauty; when you receive the award, you’re asked to pass it on to 5 bloggers, and share 7 things about yourself – more about that later.
As pleased as I was about the award, though, there was something about it that made me feel uncomfortable…but what?
And then I realised what that was. It was the word “stylish”.
Stylish is often used to describe something fashionable and trendy. To me, though, style isn’t necessarily something that’s in vogue, and I’m actually wary of anything that comes with the word “stylish” attached…in fact, I don’t think I’ve ever used the word on my blog up until now.
You see, the word stylish triggers in my mind an image of a few so-called fashion gurus attempting to suppress my individuality, and trying to standardise the way I dress, write, talk, decorate, and ultimately live.
I instinctively recoil and head the opposite way…
However, if you look it up in the dictionary stylish also means simply “having style”. And what is style?
To me, style is elegance, grace, simplicity, beauty…and individual expression. When you know and love who you are, you express your individuality and create your own personal style.
So in this spirit I pass on the Stylish Blogger award to 5 brilliant bloggers that have a unique, beautiful style:
Rosemary at Off-Beat Woman
Diana at A certain simplicity
Aileen at Kaizen Vision
Natasha at Amelie’s House
Alice at Quaint Living
And now, 7 things that you didn’t know about me:
- Until 5 years ago, I used to be a heavy smoker.
- I have a terrible sense of direction and easily get lost.
- I have a very acute sense of smell – sometimes a blessing, sometimes…not so much.
- I love reading fantasy novels and historical fiction.
- I worked in a bank for 9 years and didn’t like it a bit…enough said.
- It took me 30 driving lessons to get my driving license. If you combine that with no. 2, you can easily imagine why I only drive if I have to…
- I don’t do well in hot weather.
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{ 20 comments }
Thanks for the award Christina. Your blog is definitely very stylish!
I also have a terrible sense of direction!
You’re welcome Natasha, I love your cakes! Happy you like my blog
Hi Cristina,
These blogging awards really are such fun and so encouraging…it feels brilliant to be acknowledged, and to get a thumbs up from those we admire. Thank you Cristina and I will have fun passing it on to another 5 Style Icons.
What a wonderful honour, first of all, to receive the Stylish Blogger Award, but more importantly to receive it from you. You are the ‘Queen of Style’ with your beautifully stylish blog, even more beautiful style of writing but most of all, the amazingly stylish you in the real world.
Rosemary recently posted..Do You Still Dare to Dream
You’re so sweet Rosemary, thank you for your lovely words!!! Looking forward to seeing your 5 style icons, and to your new posts
Hi Cristina,
I fully agree with your sentiments about “fashionable and trendy.” I also recoil at the thought and actuality. Your definition of style resonates for me: “elegance, grace, simplicity, beauty…and individual expression.” I am drawn to your blog precisely for all these sumptuous qualities, which it consistently expresses. Plus your purity of heart adds the extra dash of individual expression.
Thanks for these links. I look forward to meeting some new friends with unique style.
Guess what, we have 1-3 in common! It’s been quite a bit longer for me with the smoking, but it’s part of my history too. The acute sense of smell can really be tricky!
Thanks for raising the topic of true style.
Sandra ~ Always Well Within recently posted..What Is True Happiness
Thank you Sandra for your comment, and for the award
I stopped smoking about a month before my first nephew was born – I didn’t want him to have a “smelly aunt”, and I didn’t want to feel deprived for not smoking in his presence. I’ve never looked back, and I’m sorry I didn’t stop sooner…but I guess I wasn’t ready…
I’ve always had an acute sense of smell, but after smoking my nose became even more sensitive….tricky, as you said! Sometimes I’m grateful, sometimes I wish I could be “nose-deaf” – for lack of a better word
Congratulations~*~*~*~*~
I enjoyed your list of seven things and am totally with you on #2 and #4
Thank you Denise!
I wonder whether my of love magical stories might be connected with my awful sense of direction…maybe because I’m often daydreaming and don’t pay attention to my surroundings
)
Sounds like a grand explanation to me!
If the directions are not simplified for me, “turn left at the big red barn, turn right when you see an ice cream shop” I panic and flip out.
Yes, I know the feeling very well…and I can only remember 2 or 3 steps – turn right at the traffic light, then take the second on the left, then drive for 200 mt then…and my eyes glaze over and I’m done
That’s why a GPS is on my wish-list
Cristina: I luv your definition of style – it’s a perfect way to describe it. It was fun learning some things about you…I enjoy fantasy novels too and I also don’t do well in hot weather (I’d rather be wearing a sweater and cozy scarf and hat).
Congratulations on a well deserved award and recognition and to those you’ve shared it with.
Cristina @ TeenieCakes recently posted..Chocolate Bouchons – Bouchons Au Chocolat
Thank you Cristina!
Yep, sweater, scarf and hat are way better than sweating and struggling under hot weather. When I lived in Italy I dreaded the Summer months…
Great to hear you love fantasy novels too
Cristina, you are the first blog that comes to my mind when I think stylish. You have such lovely posts on design, and they are inspire highlight the essence of style. You are “it.”
I really enjoyed reading the 7 things we don’t know about you – I especially liked the 30 driving lessons
Thank you for passing the award along to me at Kaizen Vision. Such a treat
Aileen recently posted..7 Fabulous Kaizen Tools
You’re very welcome Aileen, and thank you for your lovely words on my blog
It was quite expensive to get my driving license…I used to work part-time in an advertising agency at the time (my first job!) and I had my driving lessons in the morning before going to work. I guess most of my first wages went to the driving instructor!
Fabulous Cristina, great to meet the stylish you behind the blog (congrats on the award, very well done!!). I’m John Sherry and I love chatting over coffee, hot baked bread, walking by the sea, good manners, and horse racing and I’m lazy at cleaning the bathroom and hate ironing. Nice to meet you.
John Sherry recently posted..The Humour Tumour
Thank you John! I too love hot baked bread, good manners, chatting over decaf coffee or, better still, tea, and I hate ironing! I prefer walking in the country, though, especially where there are trees…nice to know more about you too
Hi Cristina,
Congratulations on your award, you have your own beautiful style!
I enjoyed knowing a little more about you. I’m with you on #2 and #3. But the complete opposite on #7 – I don’t do well in cold weather.
Keep up the good work!
Jenny Hones recently posted..Korean Mochi with Beef Stir-Fry
Thank you Jenny! You would like Italy in Summer then – very hot! I like the sun, but not the heat…
Well there’s no doubt that style and stylish go together with you Cristina and your appealing blog. Many congratulations on your blog style icon award – long may it continue.
John Sherry recently posted..Being Extraordinary Means Just Simply Being YOU!
Thank you so much John