It’s almost April 1st, and spring is here. I’m back in the office a few months. Many of my friends are headed back in June or September. And it keeps this blog in a bit of a weird holding pattern.
So where do we go from here?
I’m trying to be understanding of everyone’s position. Some are back at work. Some are in a hybrid model. Some are working from home. And others are on a break from working, either voluntarily or involuntarily.
As for my own creative fire, it’s embers right now. I did not imagine that being Chief of Staff has been the incredible challenge that it has been. The responsibilities are more. The stress is more. Add in a pandemic, a change in leadership in the Governor’s office, and the mounting uncertainty of where my career goes post-sine die, and I am feeling it.
But I love this blog, and I want to give it what I can. Which brings me to the poll. I think it would help to know what our needs are right now. So I created a Google Form which will help me rebalance the type of content on this blog.
It should take your less than 5-minutes to fill it out. Thank you in advance. I look forward to seeing the results; I think they’ll be very illuminating.
xo, Abra
Hi Abra–I’ve been a loyal follower for 10+ years and have spent more money than I can recount through your links. I have noticed recently, though, that more and more of the links you post go to Amazon, a company I try to minimize shopping from. I’m not able to “support’ the blog through affiliate purchases as a result. This is just one follower’s perspective, so I maybe the only one grappling with this issue, but thought I’d still share. Understand if the commission from Amazon is especially good, but some more vendor diversity would allow us more avenues to support you, which I very much want to do.
I promote Amazon products because being in Helena — where there are no department stores and few clothing stores — I’ve been adding items to my Amazon orders of staples. So it’s just where I’ve been shopping, not a question of commission. I know folks are trying not to shop there, and I’ll try to be more cognizant of that.
Seconded! I love your recommendations but actively don’t shop at amazon for clothes -they get enough of my money for other goods. I’d rather support other businesses that focus on the item I’m buying. It’s not that I think nordstrom or athleta are such wonderfully moral companies, but rather, if I give all my money to amazon, other options may dry up from lack of support. Maybe this makes no sense but it’s my internal logic.
This is the case for me as well – I try to minimize my purchases from Amazon and don’t buy any clothing from them, but am very happy to purchase from Athleta, Ann Taylor, Sephora, and some of the other places you link to.
Agree.
+1 here. I just buy so much from Amazon already that it feels really aggressive to also buy clothes there.
I love the Amazon posts for several reasons. #1 I don’t have a huge budget for clothes and it’s nice to see moderately priced clothes. #2 Amazon is a fall down the rabbit hole type of environment, so anything vetted by someone else that I like is a plus. #3 I also live in a rural area and even the largest town closest to me doesn’t have a lot of options. With a free return policy, it’s hard to beat that. So while I love shopping JCrew when things are on sale, their $7 ship it back fee, even if you are exchanging something, is a bit tough.
I say keep it up Amazon stuff, just mix it up.
Belle, a logistical question: if you recommend x item and I follow the link and x item isn’t exactly to my taste, but I see and buy y item while I’m on the site, do you get paid a commission for y item (since I wouldn’t have been on the site to begin with had you not recommended x item)? If I knew this was the case I’d be more assiduous in following your links!
Longtime reader here, filled out the survey. Just wanted to add that your blog has helped me while working 7 days a week in the office/out in the community during the pandemic. I may not get to read it every day, but never miss a post and try to buy from your links. If there’s a way to support your blog more, please let us know. Appreciate your style, thoughts and integrity.