How I Clean my Bedroom

As strange as this may sound, I actually really enjoy tidying my room. I find it almost therapeutic. It not only puts me in a positive headspace for the rest of the day but the end result is always so worthwhile. Once or twice a month, I like to do a thorough tidy of my bedroom space. In today's post I thought I'd share what this process involves. Here's how I like to clean my bedroom. 

Change The Sheets And Make The Bed

When it comes to cleaning my room, this step is a must. There's something really revitalising about new sheets. They just make my room feel instantly fresher. I like to make my bed every morning, just to start the day off right, however it's usually only a quick straightening of the covers and plumping of the pillows. When I have one of my major cleans, I like to set it up as though it's part of a store showroom. I'll arrange the throw pillows nicely and drape a fluffy blanket off one corner. I know that it can only look this way temporarily, but I find the whole process really enjoyable so I don't mind as much.

Wipe Down Any Surfaces

The next thing I like to do is take a dry cloth and dust off all the hard surfaces in my room. This includes my desk, windowsill, bedside table and vanity. There are certain corners and hideaways, like at the back of my drawers and shelves that are quite dust prone which is why I not only have to wipe down the visible surfaces but the less noticeable ones as well. Sometimes there are areas you wouldn't expect to collect dust but upon further inspection, are in fact need of a clean. For example, the row of books of my shelf, the tops of them tend to get quite dusty. Also the lids of my candles usually require a good wipe down. The last things I'll use the cloth for are my windows and vanity mirror. I'll also bring out the spray bottle for this part. 

Organise my Wardrobe

Out of my entire room, my wardrobe is probably the area I find hardest to keep tidy. Alongside my clothes and shoes, it's also where I keep random things like my Christmas room decor and my old exercise books from my primary school days. I like to keep my wardrobe door closed throughout the day just because I find it really detracts from the rest of the room. I know there's that concept of "out of sight, out of mind" but I always find myself coming back to this space whenever I do a big clean up. I won't necessarily remove anything, I'll just shuffle things around in attempt to make the space look neater somehow. I have yet to discover my perfect arrangement. This is probably why it's still a step in my bedroom cleaning process. 

Vacuum And Mop The Floor

My bedroom has wooden floorboards which I find quite hard to maintain at times. Cleaning the floor in my bedroom is a two step process. First I'll vacuum to get rid of any surface dust lying around, then I'll use the mop to remove any residue that may be left and get into all the tight spots the vacuum can't reach. I always save this step for last because the mopping requires drying time. 

Thanks for reading for about my bedroom cleaning process! Do you enjoy tidying your room? Let me know in the comments below! 

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(CaseApp) Phone Case and Laptop Skin Review

Finding your ideal phone/laptop case can be a mission and a half, especially if you're like me and always have a very particular design or pattern in mind. When it comes to accessorising my gadgets, I want something that really encapsulates my own unique style and taste. I think you can tell a lot about a person from the exterior of their device which is why the concept of customisation really appeals to me. Luckily for me, I discovered online store CaseApp, a company which also believes in the customisation of your phone/laptop to reflect yourself and personality. I want to say a big thank you to CaseApp for allowing my to try out their products. I picked out one of their pre-made laptop skins as well as an iPhone 7 case that I personalised. Here are what they look like! 

I'm really happy with how my custom iPhone case turned out! I decided to go with glossy over matte and really like the overall finish of this case. Initially, I was afraid the plastic might crack as I was attaching the case to my phone. This was because I wasn't used to such a rigid material. My previous cases have been made of a much more flimsier plastic. This was definitely a misconception on my part because it secured to my phone perfectly fine. It seems to be a very durable covering and I definitely feel reassured that my phone will be protected. 

For my laptop skin, I decided I wouldn't tamper with the design. I really liked the minimalistic pattern as it was. It was very easy to apply and I had no problems with positioning the sticker. I love the way it looks! It doesn't function as a case however if you want to add a little bit of interest to your laptop, laptop skins are the way to go. 

To conclude this review, I'd just like to mention how impressed I was with the efficient shipping. I'm not actually based in the UK therefore I wasn't expecting my products to arrive in the time that they did. My envelope came before the estimated shipping date which I thought was very good service! Overall, I've thoroughly enjoyed working with CaseApp. Not only are their products very good quality but the entire process from choosing your case to receiving it, is very fast and easy. 


If you'd like 20% off your order, use the code THEANNIE20 at the checkout (valid until 2/4/2018). 

CaseApp has kindly let me run a giveaway where you can win one free product from their site! Check out my Instagram if you'd like to get involved! 

Thanks so much for reading! 

* I received these items in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own. *

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Starting University

Three weeks ago, I officially started Uni. I was planning on writing this post after my first week of classes but since I was feeling a little uncertain about things, thought I'd give myself a few more weeks to find my feet. For just a little bit of context, I'm staying at home for my first year, studying at a design school in the city and hoping to major in graphic design. I'm really enjoying my classes and the work involved however this is only a newfound feeling. When I first started out, I didn't feel the least bit optimistic about design school. In fact, I even doubted whether Uni was right for me. 

Looking back I think that had to do with the fact that I felt quite alone during that first week of classes. Going into Uni, I didn't really know anyone. All my high school friends had either moved away or taken a year off to work or study abroad. I'm really happy with the institute that I'm at but during that first week of classes, I felt so out of place. After spending five years at high school, I was so used to getting assignments where the teachers were very clear on what they wanted and how they wanted it. I was used to being surrounded by the same group of people six hours a day, five days a week. Uni is very different. I expected this much but that doesn't mean that it still didn't throw me off a little bit. There's so much freedom and artistic license at design school. You're encouraged to interpret the assessments in your own unique way. As well as this, getting fully accustomed with every person in your class is almost impossible. There are so many people and when you're only seeing them once or twice a week, that doesn't leave much time to properly get to know them. Everything was just so overwhelmingly unfamiliar and the fact that I didn't know anyone prior to starting Uni made me feel even more lost and confused. I now know that many of my fellow classmates were in a similar situation to me however during those first few days where I had little to no interaction with anyone, it felt like I was the only one feeling this way. 

Three weeks in, I'd say I'm in a much more positive headspace now. I know the hardest part of the transition from high school to uni is over and I've begun to look forward to the rest of year and what's to come. I almost feel silly for ever thinking I was alone in feeling alone. I've been able to connect with a couple of people from my classes and instead of focusing on getting to know everyone, I'm going to work on getting to know a few people really well instead. Did you feel a similar way during your first few weeks of Uni? How long did it take you to get settled? I know that's everybody's different so I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.

Thanks for reading!

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What Should You Buy From Coconut Lane? - Quiz

Online store Coconut Lane offers the trendiest products around. From tropical prints to celebrity illustrations, you're sure to find something that captures your attention. I sure did! Several somethings actually! I'm so happy I stumbled across their site. I love their shop and the message they're wanting to convey through their products. As I recently became a Coconut Queen (Brand Ambassador), I thought I'd base this month's quiz around Coconut Lane and the items they sell. Feel free to tell me what you got in the comment section below! I love hearing your thoughts on these monthly quizzes!

1. I can't live without my...
A) Bed.
B) Sweatpants.
C) Watch.
D) Phone.

2. My fashion style is very...
A) Casual and laid back.
B) Fun and quirky.
C) Smart and sophisticated.
D) Simple and sweet. 

3. When it comes to shopping, I'm drawn to anything that...
A) I think will suit the theme of my room. 
B) Has a cool quote or design. 
C) Sparkles and shines.
D) Is cute or knick-knacky. 

4. My favourite part of my room is my...
A) Window seat. 
B) Closet. 
C) Vanity table.
D) Desk. 

5. The song lyric I am most familiar with is...
A) "Mr Sandman, bring me a dream."
B) "We never go out of style." 
C) "Diamonds are a girl's best friend"
D) "So hello from the other side." 

6. A majority of my things are...
A) Rose gold.
B) Black and white.
C) Silver.
D) Pastel coloured.

7. The last thing I purchased was a...
A) Pretty notebook and matching pen.
B) Pack of novelty socks. 
C) Set of earrings. 
D) Pair of sunglasses.

8. I personally believe, that when it comes to relationships ___________ important.
A) Trust is
B) Cuddles are
C) Small acts of kindness are
D) Communication is

9. The most recent txt message I sent said something similar to...
A) "I'm so tired!"
B) "Meet you outside the mall!"
C) "It's so pretty!"
D) "Call me!"

10. When I'm reading a magazine, I'll flip straight to the...
A) Product reviews. 
B) Fashion section.
C) DIY page.
D) Celebrity gossip. 

You Should Buy...

(Mostly A's)
This Rose Gold Cushion...

...Or Something Else From Their Home, Gifts And Stationery Range

(Mostly B's)
This Blogger Sweatshirt...

...Or Something Else From Their Clothing Range

(Mostly C's)
This Arrow Ring...

...Or Something Else From Their Jewellery Range

(Mostly D's)
This Marble Nude Colour Block Phone Case...

...Or Something Else From Their Accessories Range

Definitely check out their store if you like what you see! You can take my recommendation on board or you can look around at some of the other products they stock. As a Coconut Queen, I get to share a discount code with you all! To get 20% off your total price just type ANNIE20 at the checkout. Thanks for taking this quiz! 

* Coconut Lane provided me with this affiliate code. All opinions are 100% my own. *

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How to Manage Multiple Social Media Platforms

When it comes to blogging, platforms such as Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest play such an important part in bringing readers to your site. Social media can really do wonders for your blog however maintaining several accounts at once is no easy feat. If you struggle with managing and being active on multiple platforms here are some tips to hopefully point you in the right direction!  

Keep on Top of Notifications
When notifications are left unattended, they can really begin to clog up your device. The trouble with this build up is that you're more likely to find yourself out of the loop. When you have an overwhelming amount of notifications to go through, it's understandable to want to skim through them quickly. However this means you're more likely to dismiss something you actually have a strong interest in. Make sure to keep an eye on the comments, messages and follows as you receive them. If they're easy to check off then don't hesitate to do so. When you constantly have notifications coming through, it definitely helps to get as many out of the way when you can. 

Have Daily Goals
At the start of each day, tell yourself what you hope to achieve on each platform. It could be joining a blogger chat on Twitter, starting a new board on Pinterest or commenting on five people's photos on Instagram. If you find you're putting certain platforms over others, give yourself reasons to tend to those accounts you're less loyal to. It's all about finding that balance and having a task for each social media site will really help motivate you to evenly spread your time across all accounts. 

Track When You Post
It's a good idea to make note of when you post online. Use a planner or diary to mark when you've shared on a certain platform. That way, you'll be able to see which sites you need to engage with more. It's easy to forget when you last posted on an account so it definitely pays to have some kind of record to refer to when this happens. A big part of engaging on social media is having a consistent posting schedule. Regular tweets, pins and shares are essential in order to connect and interact with your followers. Use your planner/diary to establish a good posting schedule. It'll really benefit you in the long run. 

Thanks for reading! What's your favourite platform for promoting your blog? Let me know in the comment section below!

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