Interview with Emily from London

It was Emily's comments at some other blog that made me check her out. I truly love her fashion tips and sense of humor. Her posts are light, fun and packed with beautiful pictures of interesting backdrops. Emily is on a search for ruby slippers and here she is to explain what she means by that.

Love this quote from her post on a shopping ban she was intending... Please welcome Emily to NRIGirl blog with a round of applause!

"I’m going on a shopping ban because shopping has somehow transitioned, mysteriously in the last year, from being something I occasionally do, to being a “hobby.” I loathe this idea. I don’t want to have materialism as a hobby..."

? Can you tell us a little about yourself? Please include where you are from.

!My name is Emily and I'm from Vancouver, Canada. Currently I'm doing a masters program in London, and for the past several years I've been moving around; sometimes teaching English, sometimes scrounging off my boyfriend and writing children's books! ; )

? How did you first get involved in blogging?

! My boyfriend gave me a blog as a birthday present in 2008 so I would have a place to practice writing for an audience. I haven't updated that one much recently, though I hope to get back to it in the summer when I have time to sort out some structural problems. Those interested can find it at emilyineurope.com

... I've been writing my personal style blog, Ruby Slipper Journeys since July. I'd discovered style blogs by accident and wanted to be part of a community that encouraged and celebrated looking excellent whatever your budget, and since I also had major wardrobe restrictions due to travelling all the time, I figured that would be my angle.

? What do you do when you aren’t blogging?
! At the moment I study. In the past I was writing, exploring, practicing Spanish, supposedly in charge of the cooking... another, much neglected hobby is reading... and I like going out for breakfast, talking about culture and politics...

? How did you come up with the name for your blog?
! I wanted something that related to both style and travel.  The ruby slippers are the magical red shoes that Dorothy wears in The Wizard of Oz (the movie).  Since Dorothy is also a traveller in a world of wonders far from home, I thought the comparison made sense.

? What is your favorite post that you have written? What makes it special?
! It's interesting to reflect on. I really like this post which reflects on family history and some of the problems of fashion in a positive way. And this post for the photography and for simply having been so fun to produce!

? Any regrets about any of your posts?
! I shouldn't do this, but I do tend to feel differently about my posts if it's clear my readers aren't that into them.  Even though it's very evident that you can't please all the people all of the time, I do feel a bit bitter if something goes down badly.

? Tell us a joke please.
! Hmmm, I went and cooked dinner trying to think of a joke, but I can't think of anything. I'm not much of a joke person I guess. But I think I can still be funny... I'm just more of a clown than a joker!

? What can readers expect in your blog? What is it about?
! "What I wear" posts and "where I went" posts, randomly interspersed, and occasional musings on/rants against consumerism. Often all three mixed into one post!

? Is there anything else you want to share?
! Since your readers are predominantly not from style blogs, and since the genre can seem pretty strange to outsiders, I'll just make a brief excuse: it's not my/our intent to be shallow or narcissistic. Fashion is one of many things I enjoy; it just happens to be the one I blog about. And Ruby Slipper Journeys is as much about working with and appreciating what I have as it is about wishing for more. They say that she who excuses herself accuses herself, but I hope that's not the case.

? Now, if you have a question for me (NRIGirl) this is your chance to ask.
! Some of your personal story/reflection posts are so wonderful and full of feeling. Have you thought of writing them somewhere outside your blog? Or perhaps you already do?