Starting Over

Graduation, May 11,
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ

So, it has been about a year and a half since my last post, and although I eagerly declared back then that I would be changing the direction of the blog and writing about things other than fashion and bargains, I did neither. In fact, I stopped posting all together. The reason? I was working on my Master's degree in English. That meant hanging up my fashion-bargain hat and putting on my academic one instead. I was still writing, though, just not about the latest trends or how to find designer looks for less. Rather, I was writing about literary theories, Greek and Roman Rhetoric, and critical analyses on great literary works.

I am proud to announce, though, that all that hard work and time away from Bargain Chic has paid off -- I graduated a few weeks ago with my MA in English (with distinction, thankyouverymuch).

And because free time doesn't seem to exist in my vocabulary, I thought what better way to keep up my writing skills than to return to my trusty little blog. And, so here I am. Again.

My goal now is to revamp the site. Get a new look. Simplify. Modernize. And regroup. Over the next few days and possibly weeks, I'm going to be shopping around for how to make the blog look better. I may try out a new template, decide it's not what I am looking for, and try another. I may even experiment with my own website design. Just be patient with me, as the site may appear "under construction"  for awhile.

I've decided to keep the general theme of the website intact -- although with a broader focus on bargains that includes, but is not limited to, fashion. I am also entertaining the idea of starting another blog that will focus on topics outside of the bargain/fashion world. And I hope that if -- or when -- that blog gets started, you'll join me over there as well. I'll keep you posted on the 5Ws -- the who, what, when, where, and why of it all. In the meantime, welcome back. Be patient. And stay tuned for some delicious bargains and fantastic finds.

My best,
TeeKay

Ideas & Inspiration

There are two things I love about the Internet age we live in now. First, is that you can find anything...and I mean anything...on the Web. Just look at your search history, and you'll see the randomness of information you are seeking.  My most recent searches include "number one song the week I was born" to "corner bookshelf" to "goody two shoes," and that's just the beginning of the odds and ends of information you can find online. My second favorite things about the Internet is that you can share all of this with just about anyone. Sometimes this seem a little invasive and scary, but, in the end, it affords us with this vast smorgasbord of information that we can access almost instantaneously from almost anywhere in the world. And, for me, that is awesome and exciting.

What's even better is the amount of great ideas that I get from the Web.  I no longer have to subscribe to a bunch of magazines or be an insider in a certain industry to get information about said industry. All I have to do is go online, type in a few words, and, BAM, it's right there in front of me. 

Houzz

Case in point, home decorating. I always enjoyed browsing through my mom's Better Homes & Gardens or Country Living magazines, getting ideas on how to decorate my home. I also enjoyed (and still do) watching HGTV for new trends, styles, and unique ways of decorating.  But, with the dawn of the Internet and mobile apps, which make browsing this vast network of information even more accessible, we've got sites like Houzz and Pinterest offering tons of ideas from all sorts of people and professionals that you can access and keep track of in your own personal virtual scrapbook.

Pinterest

I can't get enough of these sites/apps. They are fantastic, and I've gotten so many cool and unique ideas from them. I could seriously spend a day browsing through both the Pinterest community of images and Houzz's large collection of home decorating and remodeling photos. And, then there are the blogs!  You can find a blog for whatever interests you, and get tons of information and ideas about those interests. I have a small but growing list of blogs that I try to frequent when time permits. You can check out some of them on the right side bar of this blog.

Now that I've shared a couple of my favorite go-to websites for ideas and inspirations, tell me what sites you like to visit to get inspired.

Cheers,
Teekay

Change is Good

It's been coming. Change. I'm not a big fan of change, but sometimes it is needed and sometimes it is necessary. For the past five years, I've dutifully scoured the web for great fashions at affordable prices and presented them to fellow Bargain Chic followers. It has been fun, it has been informative, and it has been sometimes exhaustive. I've also expanded the original intent of the blog to not just include comparable designer looks for less, but great deals I've found on the web. From wedding dresses to home furnishings, I've run the gamut of bargain chic finds.

But, now, I've grown a little weary of my blog. I want to write about things other than fashion -- about things that interest me, that are being talked about at the water-cooler, on the news, and in my life. This requires me to be more than just a bargain fashion reporter, but someone who tells stories, mulls over issues-of-the-day, and comments on what makes me and others tick. I still want to share my fashion obsessions, my take on award show gowns, and places on the web where you can find amazing deals and steals, but those will be in addition to everything else that's important to me.

So, in the coming months, I'll be transitioning to a new platform. I'm hoping to change the look and logo of Bargain Chic, and I am hoping to come up with a new, snazzy name that will encompass everything this blog will be about.  I hope you will continue to follow me, enjoy what I have to say, and comment on it. A blog cannot sustain on posts alone -- I need your input, your insights, and your encouragement to keep this small but fun blog going.

If you have any suggestions on names, or comments on the upcoming changes, feel free to leave a comment or two.

Here's to a new and exciting year ahead for Bargain Chic and for all my friends and family!

Love,
TeeKay