Gala Darling, a New Zealand born, New York-based blogger is many things to different people. Her TiLTS (Things I Love Thursday) lists has gone viral, her fans are dubbed nonpareils and her online presence is insanely rich and deep. One could get lost in her blog of the last two years, thousands of flickr photos and splatter of tweets throughout the day.
© Gala Darling
I would describe my experience of Gala as an odd one, she’s someone who can’t be stereotyped but reminds me of many women in my life. When I first found her through ProBlogger, she struck me as a loud personality but I couldn’t see why I would continue reading her content, I subscribed regardless and put it down as research. I’m not interested in her daily outfit posts or raw food, but something about her, something about the slice of her life we get to see keeps me reading.
I think that like me, alot of women start blogs because of Gala. So much of her personality is injected into galadarling.com that she makes it look easy to give so much of one’s self to online readers.
But I let her influence me a bit too much.
I realised over the last couple of weeks that I don’t know what I’m trying to say on this blog. In trying to be girly, over the top, fabulously Gala-like, I’ve lost my voice. Her tone, love of cupcakes and all things sparkly sneaked into my blog and I’m not sure that it should be here.
Every time I read an 18th Century novel, words like “shan’t”, “demure” and “frightful solitude” are in my vocabulary for the next month. The same can be said of the blogs I read frequently. I need to be more aware of influences and subscribe to those that inspire but are still relevant.
I guess I’m facing one of the never ending challenges during a human life.
I need to figure out who I am and what I want to do with the time I’m alive.
If you want to read more about some interesting people, there’s Karin Elizabeth, a neuropsychologist photographer and Tahlea Moonwater, a modern day witch.
Just came across your blog. Really like it. I understand your thing about Gala. I had been blogging before I started reading Icing and then felt that I needed to live up to it. I’ve found that I often get bored with Icing being shallow and then just when I think I won’t readit any more she does write a very insightful post.Anyway I’m working on being me.
I like the recipe posts and that’s a real difference from Icing which is more about consumption of manufactured products?
Thanks Bridey and Bella!
Bridey, the only thing your blog and Gala’s have in common is the cupcakes, and your pictures always make my mouth water. They always look just like the book – which is such a rarity for me. My hat is off, madame.
Bella, I’m glad you commented. Your blog looks amazing and I’m digging into it right now. RSS, yes please!
It’s very sweet that you both mentioned you get a sense of my “voice”, I thought it had all but disappeared. Hopefully I can still keep my potty mouth out of my blog, though.
What a mature reflection! I’d been blogging for years before reading icing but afterwards I decided to change my approach. I think she has been impressed on all of us.
The problem is that Gala is too big of an influence to ignore. Style/female/lifestyle blogging is not as democratic as it used to be. You’ve hit the nail on the head; Gala definitely casts a wide shadow.
That said, I love Little Flutters & I don’t think that you’re an imitation at all! Keep at it. Keep redefining yourself & exploring your own ideas. Because it really is worth it in the end
Yes! You have said exactly what I’ve been thinking recently. I was also inspired to start a blog by Gala, and I sometimes worry that I’m way too influenced by her style, outlook, suggestions etc.
I do love her approach to life, but I’m not interested in living an imitation of it!
There are lots of blogs where Gala’s influence is obvious, but I think that most of them still manage to have their own voice. When I read Little Flutters I feel like I get a sense of you and not a Gala-shadow!