Follow my renovations on Instagram.

Last week in photos [straight from the phone]

I am really looking forward to taking better photos with my new iphone 4S. My old phone just never could do it (although it was an iphone 4). Do you always take photos on your phone, or do you carry a camera with you? I hate missing opportunities to take photos of my family.

We had a great weekend here at The Chambo’s. Lots of friends visiting, unhealthy eating and lazy afternoons. Bliss!

I’m praying the week ahead will be better than the last! I don’t have too much planned for the first half which is awesome as I will get time to catch up on all my design work. Then at the end of the week, we are heading off on a little family vacation to the beach. I think I also have to fit in a photo shoot for an upcoming project I am involved it. I’ll let you know about that one soon.

In the meantime, I thought I would ask if anyone else has noticed that blogging is starting to change? I’ve noticed in the last 3-6 months that blogging has become more competitive than ever and some bloggers are changing direction [which is fine!]. However, I’ve stopped reading so many lately. Personally, I read blogs for the content. So the product reviews, giveaways or the clogging of advertisements have turned me off.

I do love that we all blog for different reasons. There are distinct groups/niches and blogs that I used to love are moving into the ‘monetization’ faze [and some are doing it terribly!], so I have been hunting for some fresh new blogs that provide great content, an insight in to their lives, businesses or give me awesome photos to view.

This is what I will spend my week doing; finding new blogs with great content.

Hope you all have a great day x.

17 comments

  • Ms_MotorbikeNut

    Yes I tend to stay away from blogs that aren’t like personally anymore. I love how you seperate your personally & business blogs.

    Love your pics we have camera’s in our mobile phone but I don’t love the camera in them I love taken my canon DLSR 550D camera around with me to take pics.

    (((( Hugs )))) XXXX Kisses XXXX

  • A-M

    Oh such gorgeous pictures. I love reading about your life and your family and your adventures… and gleaning critical life skills advice from your blog (leggings are not pants). I personally love blogs where I get to know the reader, where they share positive, inspiring things. I too have experienced changes with some of the blogs used to love and read every day. Wrt competition, I love that saying ‘run your own race’. Set your own boundaries, maintain your own integrity and remember “what other people think of me is none of my business”. Have a great day and let me know what good bloggys you find. A-M xx

  • Anonymous

    Seeing as you are one of the reasons that I started blogging in the first place, (You know that whole Block Thing!) then I must have you to thank for the hours of a morning, sitting at the computer pouring over beautiful blogs (yours included, of course!) I love blogs that are about the person, their family and their life, with a little bit of design thrown in too! The adds drive me crazy! I love all your photos, and I am a little envious of your new phone (with the Siri App) cause that’s where most of my photos come from too these days! Too darn convenient. Hope this week improves for you and have a great day. x Jode

  • KL

    Yes Katrina, I’ve noticed that too. Each to their own but there always seems to be more blog discoveries to be made if you need a change. I love getting to know my followers and enjoy ‘knowing’ those people behind my favourite blogs too. I used to use my Cannon camera but I find the iphone pictures can surfice, and it’s one let gadget to weigh down my bag. I’m not too precious about my blog. It is only one of many interests. I’ll look forward to seeing what newbies you ‘discover’ this week, x KL

  • Alicia ~ Time Worn Style

    I must admit I hardly read other blogs these days unless they pop up on my FB feed. None of them seem to grab me much anymore and I’m well tired of any cliqueness in any form. I was in a quandry about my own as I dont get much feedback from anyone and then reminded myself it is about documenting my renos and shop so I’m going to keep thinking of it like that. I do like what AM just said up there in your comments “what other people think of me is none of my business” I’m going to use that
    alicia 🙂

  • Elloise

    I have found that blogs are changing too and have started not following some. I have just started my own blog and probably need some helpful tips from the seminar you attended …. maybe that could be one of your posts this week? I would also carry an iPhone over a camera because carrying a camera just adds extra weight to the bag but on something such as a family holiday a camera over iPhone! Thanks for the great blogging …. keep it up xxx

  • Emma Durkin

    Couldn’t agree more with you Katrina – I personally just blog because I like it (and I’m a chatterbox!) I get a lot of offers to blog about ‘things’ and products etc. and I never do – it’s just totally uninteresting to me! And my readers too I think. Seriously if nobody on earth read my blog I wouldn’t care two hoots – it’s not why I do it!

  • Cate Pearce

    Love looking back at a busy week in photos, sometimes that’s the only way we can reassure ourselves it actually happened when it passes by in a blur.
    I’m SOOO with you on the bloggy business too. Find I quickly click away from a blog if there is too much ‘bling’ and I can’t concentrate on the content. In fact, I just wrote a post along those lines, and have unsubscribed from a blogger’s group because I felt I no longer fitted in. I just want stories, baby!

  • Kellie @ Sasse Avenue

    Hi Katrina,

    After this post, I’ll take it as an absolute compliment that you started following my blog this morning. Thank you gorgeous.
    I agree with you. Advertising needs to done in a certain manner otherwise it is overwhelming.

    Have a fabulous week with those beautiful boys of yours.

    Kel x

  • Cathy

    I’m always taking photos but whereas pre-children I always used to have my camera handy, now I sometimes just rely on my phone (I have enough other things to carry)! Only problem is that I still have an iPhone 3 and that doesn’t take the best photos…however, they are ok for my blog 🙂

    Please stop by if you are so inclined…it’s mostly about my life as a mum of 3 boys! We probably have something in common!http://www.chroniclescamera.blogspot.com

  • Jo

    Great pics Katrina. I have a digital SLR which I used to lug around for photo ops but I finally got a smartphone which takes great pics. A Samsung Galaxy S2 with an 8 megapixel camera. Yes more megapixels than the first digital camera I bought in 2003. I have only had the phone for a week but managed to snap some pics when we were waiting to see the queen (actually missed the queen as my 2y/o needed a wee), my sons school trip to a farm and wedding dress shopping with my best friend. Apparently you’re not supposed to take pics but I got a few discrete ones on my phone lol.

    I am not a blogger myself but love reading yours and a few others and I do know what you mean about people changing their blog from a hobby to a business. This is fine but they need to understand their audience and why their readers are there in the first place.

    Keep up the great work Katrina.

    Jo 🙂

  • Jess

    Hi Katrina,

    That is an interesting and slightly disappointing observation about the blogs out there turning into advertising machines and not concentrating on their content, or contributing in any meaningful way to the Blogosphere! Oh well, what can be done!?

    I write a blog with my best friend – we write “emails” (posts) to each other about life, what we have been getting up to, decorating, pretty things, her baby daughter etc. It’s fun and we simply blog as a hobby and are in no way looking to monetize our venture. Is it pointless for us to blog at all in that case? I’m not sure – but we’re having fun doing it!
    Check it out if you have a chance!
    http://www.cocoandarchie.blogspot.com

    Cheers, and please keep up your fabulous Blogging and design work!

    Jess from Coco & Archie

    • Katrina (author)

      I am checking you blog out for sure!

  • Julia

    It really irks/bores me when all the blog content is just a pretty picture with some words underneath it day after day! I want to see pics of the blogger’s own home, fashion, projects etc. not something lifted from another website which then gets recycled onto every other blog. Of course pretty pics on moderation is great for inspiration but so boring and impersonal when that’s all they post. I love reading about the personal stories of the blogger, that’s what keeps me interested and coming back. I don’t even have my own blog but enjoy reading immensely. 🙂 Keep up the good work! 🙂

    • Katrina (author)

      Thanks Julia!! x

  • Melissa @ White Verandah

    Hi miss K, I totally agree with you…. I love real pictures of real people and real homes – we can now trawl through pinterest if we choose and don’t need to have these pictures constantly recycled on bloggys… My phone and camera are either constantly in my hand or hanging around my neck (yes I look like a dork most places i go…) Love your pics, love spying on what your wearing, love your words… 🙂

  • Katrina (author)

    To the anonymous blogger who just abused me – is that all you’ve got? Ha! I have just been watched by 4 million people, do you think what you said has worried me? I’ve heard it all before from you. You’re just like the rest of the “keyboard warriors”. Yet again, we have found ourselves another adult bully! I have your IP address and I know who you are. Thanks, you’ve been reported. Off you go and enjoy your own pithy life.

    K.

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