TOP 10 POSTS OF 2016: My First Year Of Blogging

BooHoo Collaboration | Style & Life by Susana

What A Year It's Been!

2016 has been the one year that has received, I think the worst rap in years. It was the year that saw legendary artists such as Prince, David Bowie, the iconic boxer Muhammed Ali, famed fashion editor at Vogue magazine Franca Sozzani and today, George Michael.

For myself personally, 2016 has been the most challenging year for myself and husband – where we underwent our last IVF cycle after over three and a half years of constant rounds after rounds with no positive result, we painfully decided we are just going to get on with our lives but also continuing on trying naturally in the hopes our creating our own little baby. Miracles do happen, so let’s pray that we get blessed one day.

At the start of the year, with the encouragement of my husband (more like a big push), I launched my blog, Style & Life by Susana. I had for as long as I could remember, secretly wanted to create my own blog focused on fashion, style, beauty and skin care, pop culture and lifestyle but I was so afraid of what people, friends and family would think of me launching it. Fashion has been my greatest love and passion since I was a little girl. I would sit for hours watching the runway shows on the television and buy magazines with Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss and Cindy Crawford and stick the ripped out pictures to my wall. I would ‘pretend’ I too was a supermodel and would strut down my hallway to George Michael’s classic song, ‘Too Funky” over and over again. Turn to the left, now turn to the right, and strut. Haha!

My style is… well, its mainly European street style, but I base my style on my feelings and energy of that day. I go from laid back cool to boho rock chic to 70’s flamenco to activewear relaxation and then to glamourpuss …with so many more other style personalities living within inside me.

Once I finally launched it I was so overwhelmed by the support and love not only from my friends, family but from people around the world. All of you,give me strength, belief and love that I can do this, that I am good enough. So thank you all, I deeply appreciate it and do not ever take it for granted.

Blogging is freaking hard work and I only really ever realised it probably about a couple of months in, when I found that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I believe I have found my voice, my vision. It makes me so happy! I have such a deep love and passion for this! But because I want to make this my only career (during the day, I work full time as a claims assistant for an insurance assessing firm), you have to post at least a minimum of twice a week to make a little teeny tiny ripple in the ocean of blogging in fashion/beauty/lifestyle world. Nobody realises just how much preparation goes into writing a post, creating the posts and photos, the photo-shoots, the edits and over edits… its a lot of hard work but so ever worth it. So to end 2016 on a positive note, I thought I would look back over this years posts and see what one’s you all loved.

So grab a glass of wine, sit back and take a look back over the year that it was on Style & Life by Susana:

RIPPED JEANS, HEELS and a BEACH

This was my first outfit post I did and the photo shot was done down at Portarlington in Victoria. I’m quite proud of my first outfit post but have since then grown, and gotten a lot more confident in front of the camera and knowing what it is that I am wanting to portray, show and talk about. Its a learning curve, and I will still make mistakes here and there but I know I am getting to where I am supposed to be.

IVF: A WORD SOME REFUSE TO HEAR or ADMIT TO SAY | Style & Life by Susana

IVF: A WORD SOME REFUSE TO HEAR or ADMIT TO SAY

THIS IS MY STORY. IVF is a lot more common than what a lot of people realise. People of all different nationalities, religions and ages are all turning to IVF more and more to make their family dream a reality. Infertility affects people of all ages. I pretty much really didn’t understand how IVF worked until I experienced it second hand through a close friend of my husband who had been undergoing IVF for five years or so. So my understanding of the whole journey, the procedures, the emotional turmoil and the financial aspect was so limited until I really experienced it first hand myself.

prince-style-and-life-by-susana

PRINCE – Piano & A Microphone Tour, Melbourne 2016

I was incredibly blessed to have attended the last Prince concert, ‘Piano & A Microphone’ tour. I am a massive die hard fan of the legendary artist, Prince – as many of you may have noticed that he has appeared throughout my blog a few times now. This concert was beyond magical and out of this world, and a memory I shall forever hold in my heart.

STYLE THE MUSIC ICON

Farfetch contacted me and asked if I would be interested in participating in an exclusive blogger competition in recreating one of the music style icons most iconic looks that is celebrating the recent launch of their new partnership with Apple Music. Farfetch is a Portuguese international fashion website that stocks designer clothing from around the world, that is based in London, with offices in Los Angeles, New York and now Sydney.

TRAVELLING IN STYLE & COMFORT

Over the years of travelling internationally quite regularly, I have learnt on how to plan, pack and dress for the flight. I always like to dress in style but comfortability is extremely important on those long flights.

BEHIND THE MIRROR / LIVING WITH ANXIETY

Anxiety is a feeling that can come without you knowing why. It can make you feel breathless, swamped by fear and fighting the desire to run away. My name is Susana, and I have suffered from anxiety most of my life.

FACIAL THREDDING: What To Expect And My Own Personal Experience

I know I jumped a tad late onto the whole facial threading craze but I recently had my first experience in Lisbon (Portugal) at Wink in Colombo Shopping Centre. For a long time I had wondered and would always think: “Did it hurt the girls?”, “It didn’t look like it hurt. It actually looks relaxing.”, “Wow! Look at how fast she is threading that girls face!”.

Reasons to Keep Smiling When Dieting | Style & Life by Susana

LASCULPTE

I was recently introduced to LaSculpte and they are activewear covered in shapewear. Their line of activewear is ridiculously so comfortable  that you will want to live in it. Note, that I am deadly serious by this declaration! I have never felt so comfortable and attractive (yes true, it made feel that way) in a piece of clothing before until I tried on LaSculpte.

ST VINNIES CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE

I was contacted by St Vinnies to see if I wanted to take part in the#ExpressYourElf challenge and put my thrift shopping skills to the test and prove that the best Christmas presents, aren’t necessarily the newest or the most expensive.

BooHoo Collaboration | Style & Life by Susana

BOOHOO COLLABORATION

The highlight for me was when BooHoo contacted me at the end of November 2016. I wasn’t sure if I was dreaming or hallucinating when I was reading the email from the London office of BooHoo asking me to collaborate with them. This was a dream come true for me and also a confirmation, of all that I was doing on my blog I was going in the right direction.

Thank you all so much for being the reason why I show up here on the blog each and every week, and everyday on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram (and now on Youtube).

I would seriously love to know what’s been your favourite post? And if it’s not here in my Top 10, which one was it? Leave a comment below and let me know.

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35 Comments
  • Style and Life by Susana
    January 16, 2017

    Thank you so much @clairelucy18:disqus xx Susana

  • Claire Tucker
    January 15, 2017

    What a great, honest post. It sounds like you’ve overcome some low points and also achieved some amazing things in 2016. Congratulations on starting your blog and I look forward to following your adventures in 2017!

  • Style and Life by Susana
    January 7, 2017

    Thank you so much @lenkahazuchov:disqus for taking the time to read my posts, I really appreciate the support xx Susana

  • Lenka Hazuchová
    January 7, 2017

    I love all your posts and I´m really sorry for your IVF journey. Reading that post almost made me cry. You have done an amazing job considering that you are writing ONE year. Continue in a great work, I hope this year will be great. Good luck and fingers crossed. xo 🙂
    https://www.hazysecrets.com/

  • Style and Life by Susana
    January 3, 2017

    Thank you so much @esseremoda:disqus happy new year lovely xx Susana

  • Style and Life by Susana
    January 3, 2017

    Awwww thank you @ritatalks xx Susana

  • Rita Paola Maietta
    January 2, 2017

    Happy new Year! Waiting for your next post. xoxo rita talks

  • Style and Life by Susana
    December 31, 2016

    Awww thank you for saying that @disqus_FPDPUUd6FO:disqus happy new year xx Susana

  • Jasmine Watson
    December 30, 2016

    You had a busy year and created some wonderful content.

    I’m really sorry to hear about your IVF, it’s important you keep trying

    All the best for 2017
    Jazziepickles xoxo

  • Style and Life by Susana
    December 30, 2016

    Thank you so much @disqus_0rNti9vFTZ:disqus happy holidays xx Susana

  • wishmasterIN
    December 30, 2016

    I wish you two wonderful last days in 2016. I like your bohoo post 🙂

    xo Sabrina from https://breena.me

  • Style and Life by Susana
    December 30, 2016

    Thank you beautiufl! @stylelullaby:disqus happy holidays to you too xx Susana

  • Sharon Wu
    December 30, 2016

    Looks like an amazing year for you babe! Can’t wait to see what 2017 has in store for you 😉 Happy holidays! xo, sharon

    https://www.stylelullaby.com/beauty/transitioning-skin-care-routine-winter-skinfix/

  • Style and Life by Susana
    December 28, 2016

    Sounds like a great plan @cassandraericson:disqus xx Susana

  • Cassandra Ericson
    December 28, 2016

    I need to find a reputable place before I am willing to try it- going to check out yelp for suggestions

  • Style and Life by Susana
    December 28, 2016

    Definitely @glennymah:disqus xx Susana

  • Glenny
    December 28, 2016

    woot! Looks like most of us have been blogging for a full year now! its so crazy how fast time has flown by xx

  • Style and Life by Susana
    December 27, 2016

    Haha! Yep it will a year mid next month. Thank you so much for you lovely kind words @jmkaynemiyake:disqus I really do appreciate it xx Susana

  • JM Kayne Miyake
    December 27, 2016

    A year!? seriously? wow, you’ve done so much and with great blogposts! Congratulations Susana!

    God Bless!
    JM Kayne | http://www.iamjmkayne.com

  • Style and Life by Susana
    December 27, 2016

    😀 thank you @abdeldellanoramli:disqus greatly appreciate your kind words xx Susana

  • Style and Life by Susana
    December 27, 2016

    Thank you for your kind words @isalyholland:disqus xx Susana

  • Abdel Dellano Ramli
    December 27, 2016

    Your blog is dope! I wish you the best of luck in 2017! ?

  • Style and Life by Susana
    December 27, 2016

    I will go back and try it again @cassandraericson:disqus but when I don’t know, the curiosity almost killed this cat *LOL*!! Thank you for dropping by and commenting xx Susana

  • Style and Life by Susana
    December 27, 2016

    Awwwwww thank you so much @disqus_8Lrtcg2aIR:disqus xx Susana

  • Style and Life by Susana
    December 27, 2016

    Thank you @disqus_AsU4uPdj83:disqus here’s to an amazing 2017 for all of us!! xx Susana

  • Style and Life by Susana
    December 27, 2016

    Thank you so much for your lovely words @ninabosken:disqus xx Susana

  • Style and Life by Susana
    December 27, 2016

    Thank you so much @travelpockets:disqus your lovely kind words and support really means alot to me xx Susana

  • Style and Life by Susana
    December 27, 2016

    Thank you so much for dropping by & commenting, it means alot @terezacityscapebliss:disqus and thank you for keeping your fingers crossed for me xx Susana

  • KatieO
    December 27, 2016

    Amazing. Im so glad i just found your blog. I love all these posts ?

  • Stephanie Rose
    December 27, 2016

    So many great bloggers are finishing up their first year this month. So exciting. I have loved reading your fashion posts and life in Australia. Cheers to 2017!

  • Nina Bosken
    December 27, 2016

    I love the honesty mixed with the fun amongst your posts. I love that being a blogger gives you a platform to be honest and tell those kinds of stories that can connect people. And of course it’s awesome when brands want to work with you!

  • Travel Pockets
    December 27, 2016

    What a year you have had! I have been enjoying your posts and can’t wait to see what you have in store for 2017. Will also have you in my thoughts for that little miracle to happen 🙂

  • Tereza Cityscape Bliss
    December 26, 2016

    What a bloody year this has been! I didn’t know about your IVF and after reading it I will have my fingers & toes crossed for you all year, miracles totally do happen and I hope it’ll happen for you and your family too xxxx

  • Style and Life by Susana
    December 26, 2016

    Awwwww thanks babe really appreciate it @aditiparashar:disqus sounds like a cool plan xx Susana

  • Aditi Parashar
    December 26, 2016

    Loved your journey and that I’ve been a part somehow. Hope we can collaborate on something next year. Xx
    https://erubescentecstasy.com/