Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
I think one thing we are all a little scared of at this current point in time is keeping busy. If you are used to working a 9-5 job and then enjoying yourself at the weekend, sitting at home can be a drastic change.
I thought I would make a list of everything you can do at home to keep yourself busy
- Complete a puzzle
- Watch Netflix
- Go on a massive cleaning spree
- Get your green fingers gardening
- Go round each room and organise the clutter
- Organise your kitchen cupboards
- Go through your wardrobe and make new outfits
- organise your wardrobe
- Declutter your wardrobe
- Read a book - or several
- Write a blog post
- Read blog posts
- Watch YouTube
- Make a YouTube
- Finally do that DIY
- Clear out your garage
- Do some painting
- Reorganise your book shelfs
- Meal prep for dinner
- Batch cook
- Try out new hair styles
- Do a daily workout video on youtube
- Plan a video call with your family and friends
- Drink all the wine in the house...
- Copy makeup looks from Youtube
Obviously you can only do some of these things if you have a puzzle or paint already in the house.
Please leave some more ideas down in the comments for others to read.
When I can finally get my hands on some mince meat and chicken, I am going to batch cook till my heart is content!
Over the time that I have been blogging I have learnt a few things that really help to make a blog look better and get more attention. Some of these I have seen in other blogs and some I have found myself along the way. I thought today I would tell you guys a few tips that I wish I knew when I first started blogging.
- A little goes a long way - Posts don't have to be paragraphs long with super super detail. I love reading bullet point posts and lists.
- Labels are important - These help people who search for a specific topic find your post which means more page views
- The blogging community isn't scary- I didn't start taking part in the blogging community until recently because I didn't know if I really fitted in, but since I have I have met so many lovely people and gained some lovely followers so don't be scared to put your self out there.
- Add properties to your photos - By copying your labels into the Properties tab on your photos, when someone searches a topic your photo can appear leading them to your blog which means more page views
- You can post as much or as little as you want - Some times I can feel like I need to post more frequently because all of my favourite bloggers do but if you have a good following, it won't matter how often you post they will still be there to read them.
I have learnt a lot since I first started my blog many moons ago, feel free to comment anything you wish you knew at the start!
I have always been a forgetful, lazy person since i was a child and it has never really changed, but i have decided that this year i am going to get shit done. I am someone who likes to makes plans and follow a diary so a bullet point planner was right up my street. I found this one by Wendy Hobson back last year in my local B&M and kept it on my book shelf for months.
Then in January i knew i wanted to make a change so i dug out the book and started from there, if i had the time and the fancy hand writing i would make my own but sadly i don't so pre made books will do. This book is really good because it has not dates printed on the pages so you can use it how ever and whenever you want. I started using this the first week in January so hopefully if i keep at it, i can complete the whole year and become more organised.
Included within this planner is a week to week planner with to do lists, meal plans, inspirations, priorities, themes, countdown clocks and annual and yearly reviews. Here are some of the ways i am going to use this planner to organise my year.
Become more healthy
I am a serial takeaway eater and i can't do it anymore not just for health reasons but to help save for a wedding as well, so i have been planning our meals every night and prepping my lunches for work to stop myself grabbing rubbish to eat. I have cut out rubbish lunches and junk food as well opting for healthy fate free options and seriously reducing my portion sizes. I think one of my main problems is i am always scared to not make enough food and be hungry afterwards, which then makes me cook stupid amounts of food. Since January i have been filling my lunch box with fruit and yogurt and recording everything i eat to keep track of my intake in the notes section of my weekly pages. Since starting this the only thing i have seen a reduction in the size is my fingers, i feel like they are less chubby which i guess i can;t complain about.
I am also making a list of the routines/exercises i want to do each week or how many times i want to go gym. I plan in which day i am doing what so i know which type of meal i want to make for dinner and how much spare time i will have that night. I've been doing this for a 5 weeks now and if you don't include the week i was ill and dying, i have stuck to it quite well. I have purchased new workout gear, bought a yoga mat and even some exercise bands. check me out! At the minute i am doing more home workouts rather than going to the gym mainly because i don't have to go out in the cold and dark to complete them. Once spring rolls around, which i can not wait for, i plan to become more active at the gym.
Take charge of my weekends
My weekend normally start out the same. It gets to a Friday night and i plan all these things i want to achieve over the weekend, i do a big clean and go for a walk on Saturday morning and then for the rest of the weekend i am sitting on my arse dreading the approach of Monday. I don't want to be that person anymore. I now make a list of jobs i want to complete over the week and at the weekend i make sure i tick off all the job left on the list. Now they aren't boring jobs like empty the bins (even though it has been on the list once), it is fun stuff like finish my puzzle which i did this week thank you very much.
It is currently Sunday when i am writing this post and my last two jobs are look up hotels for my birthday which is very exciting and hand wash my nice party dresses which i am dreading but when they have been sitting in your dirty bin for months, you just got to bite the bullet.
Up my blogging game
Last year i made a conscious effort to post more on my blog over the summer when i had some free time to myself but once i started work again my blog kinda took a back seat. I do this as a hobby because even though i am pretty rubbish at it, i like to write. I'm using my planner this year to keep me motivated and up to date with my blog. I am planning in my posts on my weekly diary and setting myself goals to achieve blog wise. I don't write for anyone other than me so i don't put too much pressure on myself about my blog because like i said, its a hobby i enjoy for myself.
I do feel like i am a more organised person since the new year, i have more time for myself but i'm also planning in making time for other people. i have a second bullet journal which i received as a birthday present last year which is cuter and smaller than the Wendy Hobson planner. I wanted to start out with the Wendy one so i could figure out what i wanted to use it for most and make it messy ready to start again next year with my nice journal.
Thanks to my sister I have the eBay buying bug!
I have been a fan of eBay fashion for years now and recently I have forgotten how good the fashion actually is. I deleted the app off my phone in the last year or so because I was getting addicted and surprise surprise i'm addicted again!
I find the summer time is the best time to buy fashion on eBay because you can get away with cheaper fabrics and designs because you live in dresses, whereas a rubbish jumper is more noticeable and annoying to wear.
There are so many nice dresses and playsuits on the site at the moment so today I am showing you some of the pieces that have caught my eye, with links of course.
Starting off with these gorgeous dresses we have this red wine bardot maxi dress with the floral print (link) . What I really like about this dress is the ribbed material over the bust because hopefully that will mean it doesn't fall down. Then we have this super cute yellow pokadot jumpsuit (link) which looks like a bardot but it has has tiny straps. The legs look cropped which is perfect for me because I am so short so hopefully it will fit my legs. Then we have this cute short bardot button up red dress (link) which would look really nice during this heat wave we are currently having with some tan accessories.
So far I have bought 4 items off eBay so I have restrained myself! Everything else is currently sitting in my watching feed waiting for payday to come back around.
I have been a fan of eBay fashion for years now and recently I have forgotten how good the fashion actually is. I deleted the app off my phone in the last year or so because I was getting addicted and surprise surprise i'm addicted again!
I find the summer time is the best time to buy fashion on eBay because you can get away with cheaper fabrics and designs because you live in dresses, whereas a rubbish jumper is more noticeable and annoying to wear.
There are so many nice dresses and playsuits on the site at the moment so today I am showing you some of the pieces that have caught my eye, with links of course.
Next up I have this sunflower two piece which I am obsessed with (link) . Both the top and the skirt are a ribbed material so it is guaranteed to fit you and not fall down. I find dresses/skirts like this are the comfiest things to wear especially when it is this hot. Then we have this thin simple button down midi dress (link) which is all over Instagram at the moment. I have a few of this style of dress already and they are really easy to just throw on and go. Next we have the first of many white and blue pin strip dresses (link) , you will see after this post how obsessed I am with them! This one has a nice slit on the front making this dress perfect for holiday, which reminds me I really need a holiday! Lastly for this photo is this super cute short white button down dress top which has a cute peplum flare at the bottom (link) . I can see myself wearing this as a house dress when I want to feel comfy but cute.
Last but not least we have these four great outfits. First up is this thin button down dress with pockets (link) , which I already have in black, pink and mint green. They do come up big for their size so I would size down if it takes your fancy. I wore the pink one for a day out walking round Sandringham House in Norfolk one sunny weekend and it was the perfect outfit with a brown bag and sandals.
Next up we have this white and blue striped jumpsuit with a tie on the back (link) . Blue and white patterns are my favourite colour combo as you can see, I just think they suit everyone and they can look smart and casual at the same time. Sticking with the stripe theme we next have this baggy stripe jumpsuit in a jersey material (link) . This would be the perfect lazy Sunday or traveling outfit wouldn't it? Most of the time my style is all about comfort so you would normally see me in this rather than something sexy and smart. The last item I have for you today is this blue and white stripe (shock) jumpsuit with a bow on the front (Link) I know I have an obsession I am seeking help I promise. What I like about this jumpsuit is it has elastic on the back so I know which ever size jumpsuit I go for it will most likely fit me.
So far I have bought 4 items off eBay so I have restrained myself! Everything else is currently sitting in my watching feed waiting for payday to come back around.
T H E G O O D
Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer
This is a cult classic for most people and I tried this product right at the beginning when I was starting out and haven't looked back since. It really is as good as everyone says and I recommend this to everyone.
Baby Lips
You guys know how bad I suffer from dry lips and since trying these lip balms many moons ago I haven't bought another product since. They last me ages even though I use them multiply times a day and are great to wear underneath lip products.
Real Techniques Brushes
Being a blogger I always want to support other bloggers who bring out products and the Real Technics brushes are items I would happily buy multiple times to show my support. They are some of my favourite brushes to use and even though I do have some cheap versions in my collection, I do always go back to the originals when I want my face to look the best.
NYX Lips
These exploded last year in the blogging community and when the counter finally came to the town next to mine I picked up a few bits to try and fell in love with the products. I have three lip creams which I regularly keep in my makeup bag for everyday use and there are so many more NYX lip products I can't wait to try.
Nivea Post Shaving Balm
Nikki Tutorials made this such a popular product that I thought this was going to completely change my life. I do love using this as a primer as my skin looks amazing and last for so long, it is perfect for weddings or nights out when you want your skin to stay fresh all day/night. I don't wear it very much though as I do think it causes spots on my skin so I save it for special occasions.
L'Oreal True Match Foundation
Nearly ever beauty blogger or YouTuber has this foundation in their collection it seems and I totally understand why. it is amazing at making my skin glow and look like I have the perfect skin. I go through stages of wearing it everyday and then not wearing it for weeks because I don't want to run out. The price of this product is great and definitely worth a try if you don't have it in your collection.
Top Shop Glow Pot
At one time nearly everyone was using this highlighter in blog posts and videos and now its kind of become forgotten about. This is a great highlighter at such a good price, a lot of people have compared this highlighter to many high end products which show how good it is. The only down side to this product is that it does rub off my foundation when I apply it. Knowing me though, I am probably applying it wrong.
Benefit Hoola Bronzer
I don't know anyone who doesn't like this bronzer and that shows how popular this bronzer actually is. I bought it a very long time ago and I still love it as much as when I first got. I think the best thing about it is that you can use it as a bronzer as well as a contour because the tone of the product is perfect for both.
Maybelline Colour Tattoo
To this day I still use my Colour Tattoos on a regular basis as they are so easy to use. I have 3 shades in this and I think its time to pick up a few more shades soon. They blend really easily and last a long time on the lids so they are definitely worth the hype for me. I love to use them on lazy makeup days.
T H E B A D
Mac Studio Fix So many people love this foundation so of course I had to try it but I have been disappointed. I hardly use this foundation but I can't bare to throw it away or pass it on because I want to like it. I like natural looking skin and this foundation can look natural if your don't use a lot of product but most of the time when I wear it, it just ends up looking cakey. I find with this foundation I don't like the look of it until its been on for a few hours which isn't good because then I have to take it off. I think for the price, the foundation just isn't worth it.
Benefit Erase Paste
This concealer was really hyped about when it first came out and that made me try it out not long after it surfaced. I got the shade fair which I thought would be great for me but it was really orange toned, when I had a tan it wasn't too bad on my skin but the coverage and the tone just didn't work for me. Also the pot was really annoying to use.
Bodyshop Shade Adjusting Drops
Everyone went crazy for these drops when they first came out and I really wanted to try out the dark drops because I thought they would be more useful. I don't know whether I used it wrong but every time I used these drops my foundation just looks muddy which is not the look I was going for. I started using the drops to cream contour my face which worked better than darkening my foundation but since I don't cream contour very often, the product just didn't get used.
What products have you bought thanks to blogging or YouTube?
As you may or may not have noticed I have been severely slacking in the blog post department recently and I'll tell you why, I'm a human being who gets distracted by other things and falls out of love with things after a while. Lots of things have changed recently in my day to day life which has kept me busy and distracted, which has resulted in me writing naff posts here and there so that I've at least posted something that month. And I think its about time I got organised and get back on top :)
I thought the best way to start afresh and really get back into it was to write a post telling you all about the stuff I have been doing recently that has kept me so busy, give you an insight into my life as I find these posts more enjoying than reviewing a product if I'm honest.
So Chelsea what have you been up to since April time...?
One thing that has really impacted my day to day life recently has been work, I was officially promoted to Sales Team Leader at my work this June (after being the holding Sales Team Leader since January) :D so I've been super excited about that, and with this new title I have more responsibilities around work, especially when I am the only management in for a day. So that has really been wiping my out lately causing me to come home, make some food and flop into bed (more of a dive bomb really..). The thought of sitting on a computer for a few hours typing up something didn't really appeal to me for a while, so my laptop has been hibernating under my bed for too long now.
As well as work wiping my out with the long stressful days, I have also joined back at the gym to get back in shape after a significant number of months away. An hour in the gym or an hour class after work has been really effecting my energy levels, again I've been hibernating in bed to recover haha. But its worth it right? Kim K here I come...
I've also been making a conscious effort to see my friends more, especially my favourite girls who have busy lifes and partners that keeps them busy themselves. A night at the pub or at a restaurant for dinner has been a reoccurring theme in my weekdays in recent weeks and certain aspects of my friends lifes have changed so that seeing them during the week is easier now :)
I've also been going on adventures with friends to my new favourite place recently too, Cambridge. I could see myself living in Cambridge after my first visit there and so me and my friend James have travelled down a few times just to spend the day exploring the town and relaxing in my favourite spot, Jesus park. It is so peaceful and just a change of scenery.
Here are some photos from my most recently trip :)
Lastly, the weather recently has been amazing, what I've seen of it on my days off anyway... so I've been enjoying the sunshine on my days off having bbqs, going for walks with my family and grabbing lunch in pub gardens and just sitting outside in the sun with a drink and friend chatting about life.
*Spot the blogger* Ashleigh (All Things Ashleigh) Please don't hate me! :P
I appreciate that you guys have stuck around instead of un-following me after I haven't posted in so long so thanks guys and I assure you I have a good number of posts backed up to post in the next few weeks so watch out :P
I've been nominated by Reb-Ellie for the Liebster award. I love the idea of this so thank you girls! For those of you who don't know what this is (I didn't until yesterday) then here are the rules...
- Choose 11 bloggers to nominate who have less than 200 followers.
- Answer 11 questions given to you.
- Let people who you have nominated know you have done so.
- You can't nominate the person who has nominated you.
- Create 11 questions for the people you nominated to answer.
- You must follow the blog that nominated you.
1. Why did you decide to start blogging?
I really got into reading blogs over the last few months after seeing that people I watched on YouTube had their own ones. I loved reading peoples views on products and just wanted to have my say as well. The blogging community seemed so friendly that I didn't feel scared to try it myself.
2. What is your favourite pattern, eg; spots or stripes
My favourite pattern is probably spots (and hearts)
3. Which bloggers are you most inspired by?
The favourite bloggers are Zoella, DizzyBrunette3, The Make-up Chair and Gh0stparties.
4. Tell us one interesting thing about yourself?
My nose changes shape depending on how I'm feeling, some times I have a pointy nose other times I have a little button one.
My nose changes shape depending on how I'm feeling, some times I have a pointy nose other times I have a little button one.
5. What is your favourite fashion or beauty trend at the moment?
It's a bit plain but I love everything monochrome at the moment, especially patterned dresses.
6. If you could travel anywhere in the world where would it be?
America!
7. What is your favourite season of the year?
Definitely winter! I love wrapping up in loads of layers and Christmas is my favourite time of the year.
8. This is one we were asked but we’d love to know yours, so, who is your celebrity crush?
I have many... Louis, Harry and Liam from One Direction, Shiloh Fernandez (such a hottie!), Brad from The Vamps and every leading male in every romcom really...
9. What is the first picture that comes up when you type your name into Google images? (Post at the end of this post)
10. Most played song on your phone?
The 1975's version of What Makes You Beautiful. It is amazing.
8. This is one we were asked but we’d love to know yours, so, who is your celebrity crush?
I have many... Louis, Harry and Liam from One Direction, Shiloh Fernandez (such a hottie!), Brad from The Vamps and every leading male in every romcom really...
9. What is the first picture that comes up when you type your name into Google images? (Post at the end of this post)
10. Most played song on your phone?
The 1975's version of What Makes You Beautiful. It is amazing.
11. What is your favourite movie?
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| My google picture is soooo small |
- Makeup Mayhem www.victoriaearls.blogspot.co.uk
- Sophie de Merci www.sophiedemerci.blogspot.co.uk
- Haus of Haul www.hausofhaul.blogspot.co.uk
- Lipstick Loveheart Beauty www.Lipstickloveheart.blogspot.com
- Molly Rose www.mollyrosefashionuk.blogspot.co.uk
- The Voice of Nia www.thevoiceofnia.blogspot.co.uk
- Skincare Girl www.skincaregirlblog.blogspot.no
- Dream in Lace www.dreaminlace.blogspot.com
- Beauty Babbles www.beautybabbles.com
- Birch Beauty www.birchiebeauty.blogspot.com
- Tartan and Love www.tartanandlacee.blogspot.com
- If you could be any celebrity for the day, who would you be?
- If your wardrobe could be filled with only one brand of clothing, what brand would you choose?
- Do all you friends know about your blog?
- What celebrity inspires your fashion sense the most?
- What do you enjoy most about writing a blog?
- What were you doing 5 years ago?
- Favourite thing to do in your free time?
- Do you prefer to get all glammed up or be natural and casual?
- If you could be best friends with any blogger, who would you choose?
- What item do you not leave the house without?
- What made you choose your blog name?
Have fun guys! :)
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