On Instagram, like a month ago, I posted a realization that I had come to:
Because I wanted to recommend a facewash that my friend told me about but I felt like I couldn't for some reason because there was no "click here" or "swipe up" or "link in profile" to add. Like, it's just a $5 charcoal wash from Target (and it. is. amazing.) but it seemed pointless to talk about it without linking to it...
And then I realized why.
At this point, in 2019, blogging is all about buying things and recommending that others then also buy those things.
Literally.
I came across a post a few weeks ago. Someone was linking 5 or 6 clothing items they've bought lately and have loved and you should check them out too. There were no pictures (if you put pictures, I somewhat cut you metaphorical slack and also if you put the actual item names so I can look them up myself, not just number them with links). I would love to see those items, but they're Shopstyle links and I don't like the idea that someone makes money off of me just looking at something on J.Crew's website.
Don't get me wrong.
I like seeing what others buy. I'm always slightly in awe of how much money some of these bloggers spend, to be honest. I mean, these last 7 months have taught me that there's not actually much I need because the SAHM-life isn't brimming with opportunities to dress up and, when we do go places (that aren't grocery stores), I just need to have like 4 or 5 go-to outfits that I love. I'm actually in a state of shock, still, about how many clothes I needed as a teacher. I can't imagine having a closet that full again.
And I can't get over how much people buy their kids. Wells already has more toys than he knows what to do with and they were mostly all gifts, so I can't imagine adding to the pile.
Clutter is my least favorite thing and part of the stress I've felt lately is that we had x amount of stuff in Wyoming, y amount of stuff in Colorado, and z amount of stuff in storage. x, y, and z all needed to get sorted, donated, sold, packed, etc and be put en route to Pennsylvania. This was/is my issue with moving all the time. I'm convinced that we were not meant to be slaves to our stuff in this way.
I'm also in awe of how. much. money. some bloggers spend on repetitive items. I usually buy one good purse a year ("good" meaning $80+). Currently, I'm still using my $28 Target bag because it has multiple pockets and I don't care if a bottle leaks in it, and it has held up like new over a few cycles in the washing machine. It's great for traveling and for everyday use.
Anyway.
Blogging used to be about sharing non-affiliate link related things. Stories, recipes, things that happened to you...that aren't weekend recaps. There's nothing wrong with a good weekend recap, but the formula of blogging is just getting to be tiring when all you post is the places you went to eat over the weekend, some (usually whiny) confessions around mid-week, and then a recap of your favorite things on Friday...which usually includes no less than 7 affiliate links.
You can say what you want about how I may need to just get over this and I will at some point, I'm sure, but I feel like it's the big pink elephant that has slowly crept into the room over the last few years and no one wants to point it out.
