Blogs I've Loved In 2014

This has actually been the first year where I've watched vlogs on YouTube more than I've spent time reading blogs. Maybe this is because I had my own interest in starting a channel, but it's also because I've found so many more vloggers I bloody enjoy watching. Of course blogs still appeal to my love of reading and inherent nosiness about people, and it's way easier to read blogs on public transport than it is to watch YouTube. The ones I've kept coming back to this year have been these beauties: 

 

I'd really recommend following Lynsay on Instagram as well. Her outfit of the day photos are full of colour and quirky character, her tattoos are stunning works of art, and she takes amazing photos! But on her blog you'll find a witty Scottish lass showing you the best of Glasgow, offering advice on everything from blogging to taking your look to new levels of fabulosity, and also sharing her life with (fellow blogger) boyfriend Gary. I was so frickin' envious of Lynsay's trip to Florida earlier in the year: Disney-central whilst being insanely stylish. Lynsay loves 30 Rock, Mean Girls and (Lena Dunham's) GIRLS and she comes across as someone you'd love to hang out with. It's been a major achievement of mine in 2014 that I manged to meet Lynsay TWICE and she's been every bit as lovely as I'd imagined. She even gave me a friendship bracelet the second time! Awww, I haven't had one of those since Year 8 in school. And I love her for it. This one is bringing girl power back in a big way, and probably in bright lipstick and a sparkly fascinator too. 

Louise and Victoria write very different blogs, I'm only putting them together here because unlike the other blogs I read, I got into theirs after getting better acquainted with them on YouTube. Whereas you might never hear the actual speaking voice of a blogger, with these two I can hear their voices as I read, and I can visualise their facial expressions. I know a lot of bloggers also YouTube, but it's a new experience for me to be so into both outlets with someone; I'm very much either/or. I've watched Louise' videos for a while and have warmed to her big-hearted and witty banter immeasurably, she presents a life that's both excitingly aspirational and comfortingly down to earth. Louise has always shared personal snippets of her home life and motherhood, but this year she has truly upped her game and brought tears to my eyes on more than one occasion with devastatingly personal and life-affirming posts, honest and raw and relatable. Victoria, in comparison, is a relative YouTube newbie. I've watched her channel since it started and love her infectious enthusiasm for fashion and beauty (everything is 'beautiful' or 'gorgeous' - said in a northern English accent). Other reasons to love Victoria and her blog: her entrancing pastel hair which changes shade on the pink/purple spectrum, her smiley disposition (which comes across in both her videos and her writing), luscious outfit photos, and helpful beauty and life advice. I'm currently studying for my PhD whilst blogging, and seeing Victoria pass hers and become a doctor this year spurs me on big time. 

   
     

I only found Angela's blog this year and already I love it! As a fellow lover of all things London and cultural I enjoy getting recommendations from Angela and seeing her whirlwind of music gigs, fancy and medium-fancy meals, sightseeing walks and blogger events presented through beautiful photos. I got to meet Angela at Nuffnang's rooftop party, and we've since bonded over the direction our lives took in 2014 to become full-time bloggers. If you like your blogs slick and photo-fabulous, Angela is your girl. She's also a darn good writer and each post helps you get to know her a little better. 

       

Is it weird that that I stumbled across Laura's blog because I'm somewhat of a Jackass fan? Her husband is the director of this very mature and high-brow franchise (ahem...), hence Laura being a housewife in Hollywood. Hers is one of my longest-followed blogs, as in really followed; reading every single post for almost five years. Laura is way more than a housewife, despite the addictive posts on parenting, housekeeping, home decor and shopping. Through consistent hard work and some excellent writing she's become a super-blogger in the States, and over the years it's been fascinating to see Laura become more and more in-demand with brands and speaking at events. To follow the story of someone that you'll never meet so closely, to read about their pregnancies and see their children growing up is both strange and beautiful when you think about it. It's not all L.A glamour and film premieres (though those are fun), Laura doesn't hold back on the kind of blog posts that you end up reeling from for days. She's discussed the unsettled feelings that came from having doubts in her Christian faith, the honest truth about recovering physically and emotionally from childbirth, and the ups and downs of marriage. Like other Jackass fans I was gutted when Ryan Dunn died in 2011, but reading about it from Laura's perspective was heartbreaking. If you think Laura's Hollywood lifestyle won't make her relatable, you couldn't be further from the truth. She's incredibly likeable and readable; a book-obsessed mum who loves cakes and shoes and chatting about life. 

 

I first met Jasiminne in 2013 at a blogger event for Nokia. I'd been guilty of extreme prejudice as I'd scanned the photos on her blog before the event and made the assumption that this immaculately styled and jet-setting fashionista who divides her time between seemingly fabulous lives in London and Kuala Lumpur would be some kind of snobby Mean Girl. If I'd just taken the time to read Jasiminne's hilarious and self-depreciating posts I wouldn't have been so surprised when I met her and found her to be the most warm, outgoing and friendly blogger I've met at an event. Ever. Shame on me. You'll have life-envy when you read Jasiminne's blog (the clothes, trips to exotic lands, details of being wined and dined by brands, being on the front cover of Malyasian Tatler!). But like me, you'll probably also laugh out loud at tales of her hamster, Coolio, eccentric adventures with her boyfriend, Henry, and all the other randomness that makes Jasiminne adorable. Recent posts that have made me spit my tea out with laughter have included statements like "I taught myself Japanese by watching subtitled anime", and "that artist studio I got in October? I haven't made anything in it apart from an Anaconda dance tribute video that will never see the light of day." Jasiminne is down to earth and definitely a girl's girl, and that's why someone so gorgeous and privileged can have such a widely-read and well-liked blog. 

It's no surpise that Emma is a journalist. Her lifestyle blog provides one well-structured and punchy magazine-style article after another - all the while giving us a real sense of Emma's brilliantly witty personality. She's the girl you want to befriend, the one who is having adventures all over London and getting to do cool stuff like meet Lena Dunham and go on glam press trips abroad. I often find myself tweeting Emma's blog posts because they offer genuinely helpful advice to bloggers and writers (and discusses what or if there's a difference between these two titles), or just gems of inspiration Emma has discovered from her extensive reading and podcast-listening. I remember seeing Emma's blog ages ago and marvelling at all the sidebar logos of publications she'd written for. I thought 'I can't wait until my sidebar looks like that'. So far I have one logo. Brilliant. But as Emma says - "care less, do more, be better."

I also still love the funneh musings of fashion blogger and TV presenter AJ Odudu (sample post: "Kim Cattrall I love you... but I love me more") and she didn't disappoint when we met IRL at the Boohoo Christmas party. Zoe London is great for posts on blogging advice, Caroline Hirons is the one for beauty product porn and no-nonsense skincare advice, and I've loved the new discovery of Steph and her Eat Travel Love blog; an enviable collection of adventures, both home in the UK and abroad. What blogs have you loved in 2014? Give me your recommendations as I'd like 2015 to have more of a blog reading/vlog watching balance. 

All copyright of images used remains with the bloggers included in this article