World of Joy is four years old - 1,460 days, 452 posts and I'm enjoying blogging more than ever. There have been times when I've not posted for a while, wondered if it's all a bit silly, but then I remind myself that it's my blog, I can post (or not) if I want to and I can talk about what ever I want. That's the beauty of it. Some of my friend's know about it, most don't. I wonder what they think of it at times but mostly I blog away, amusing myself and recording life. I wouldn't change a thing.

Except maybe the name. I set up World of Joy some time before I started blogging, I needed to learn how to set up and use a blog so that I could run one for a client and I just used the first thing that came to mind. When I was younger, I was a frequent daydreamer (still am) and when caught lost in my own little world my Mum would say I was in my 'world of joy', Joy being my middle name. Now when I say it out loud I can't help thinking of the book The Joy of Sex. I'd hate people to get the two confused. How disappointing they'd find my content in comparison.

Anyway, I digress, to celebrate my blogiversary last year I did my 3 for 33 challenge in which I wore 3 dresses for 33 days. I've been planning another challenge (of course I have) and I've decided to give myself a little more freedom this year.

I'm going to choose four tops, four jumpers (or long sleeved / warmer options), four bottoms, four dresses, and I'm going to wear nothing but these 16 items for four weeks. Shoes and accessories will be unlimited. I think it'll be a doddle.

Welcome to 4-4-4

It kinda reminds me of one of my early challenges, born out of the need to save some pennies I chose four tops to wear Monday to Thursday and made Friday 'Dressday'. At the weekends I was free to wear what ever I wanted. It was my first challenge and the first time I posted a picture of myself online. As you can see I wasn't overly comfortable with that (don't I look happy?), but the challenge helped to quell that particular fear and I haven't looked back since.

It was lovely to re-read the comments on these early posts and see so many familiar faces - Sophie, Kezzie, Laura, Sherin, Megan & Nora and Tracyi, to name a few. It' so easy to forget how long we've been reading each others blogs and how much a part of my blogging life they've become. Aww <3 you guys!

Anyway - the challenge - you may wonder why I keep doing these. Well, firstly I enjoy them and secondly, they curb my spending for while - whilst doing them and also for a short time after. I can't seem to keep my diminished need to spend going for longer than a few weeks after a challenge has ended, so I like to do them once in a while to remind myself, if only for a little while, that I don't need more clothes.

Who knows maybe one day I'll get it though my thick skull that new clothes aren't any better than the ones I already have!

Love