Blogging vs. Uni

Three weeks ago, I started my second year at Uni. 

It was inevitable this year was going to be harder than the first, I just didn’t realise how early on it would hit me. Since Uni started, my course work and assignments are all that I can think about. During the break, I didn’t have a lot to do work-wise. I definitely owe it to this blog for giving my creative side something to do during that time. I actually enjoy studying so having my blog was a great way to practice self-discipline outside of the classroom. Meeting the Friday deadline each week was my way of keeping my inner-student happy.

Last year, I had quite a good system for getting my blog posts and Uni assignments done on time. Because of this, I imagined this year to be a piece of cake.

Sadly, I can’t say it has been all that easy.

Yes, I still managed to get a post up last week and the week before, but I can’t say I was overly pleased with how they turned out. They definitely felt very slap-dash to me. To be honest, even this post feels a bit messy and all over the place. Probably because I’m multitasking between writing this and working on my typography posters in InDesign.

I know I’m not the only blogger out there who has to manage their blog alongside other commitments. It’s like both things are battling for my attention and when I dedicate too much time to one, I feel guilty for not tending to the other. It’s all about finding that happy medium.

I guess this post is another way for me to let you guys know that my content might be a little rough these next few weeks. Just until I get a handle on this whole balancing act thing. I really want to keep putting content out so I don’t think a break is necessary at this time. I think after 6 months away from Uni, I’m still learning to adjust to my new weekly schedule. There's no doubt that the more I work at it, the easier it'll get.

Q: What tips do you have for balancing blogging with other things?

Thanks for reading!

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How Important is a Blogging Niche?

If someone were to ask me what the first step to creating a blog was, I'd say decide on a niche. 

A friend came to me the other day with a very clear topic for the blog she was wanting to start. She knew what she wanted to write about and had a very obvious passion and excitement for it. There's no doubt that a niche gives a blog purpose and direction. When you're starting a blog from scratch, it's definitely dictates a lot of what you do. Everything from the header to the imagery to the colour palette of your page somewhat correlates to your blog's niche. There's a lot of pressure when choosing, knowing how much influence this one overarching idea has. 

For me, figuring out what I wanted to write about was the hardest step of all. For ages, I couldn't bring myself to consider the 'Lifestyle' niche. I feared it was way too broad. Yet even when I did manage to hone in on a slightly smaller topic, I was still left unsatisfied. I couldn't imagine myself writing about it for years and years to come. 

Which is another thing I want to talk about. 

Can you change your niche part way into your blogging journey? If you've spent so many years establishing yourself as a certain type of blogger and you suddenly decide you want to do something different, is that erasing all the hard work and effort you've spent getting your blog to where it is? That's a conundrum I'm sure many bloggers have found themselves in. Writing about something they love, gaining a good readership then suddenly falling out of love with it and only writing for their readers. In fact, I've seen this happen in YouTubers too. They post videos that they know their loyal viewers will love. Even if this means sacrificing their own happiness in the process. 

So how important is a blogging niche? I still think having a niche is a fundamental part of creating a blog however I don't think there's anything wrong with drifting outside of that niche or after a while, deciding you don't actually want a niche at all. This turned out to be quite the essay, but I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. 

Q: How did you decide on your blogging niche?
Thanks for reading! 

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A Very Special Blog Post

This post marks a very special moment in this blog's history. After 2 years of creating content for The AnnieChanie Blog, I have officially reached triple digits.

100 blog posts.

That's amazing.

When I first started blogging I dreamt of reaching this number, but with my wavering commitment and irregular posting I imagined it'd be a long time coming. 

Prior to The AnnieChanie Blog, I tried three different blogs at three different times. Not a single one made it past 10 posts. This is why 100 blog posts is such a big deal to me. None of my other blogs got a tenth of the posts I've written for this blog. It was definitely last year that pushed me over the edge. In 2018 I made it my mission to have a regular upload day, and I think it's thanks to that that I'm writing this post today. 

I've completed a lot of posts over the two year time period. Hauls, life hacks and even a DIY tutorial (it was one of my earlier posts...sadly not a very good one). There are posts that leave me scratching my head in confusion wondering what on earth I was trying to say, posts that I can't help but laugh at knowing what I know now, and posts that actually make me want to applaud my past self for. 

It's pretty cool what can change over the course of 100 blog posts. I think my writing has definitely seen an improvement. I feel a lot more confident transferring my thoughts to the screen, articulating my ideas and revealing more of my personality through my writing. I've also started to see my blog in a whole new light. Rather than being a place that only I can have a say/input towards, I've tried to involve my readers and fellow bloggers a lot more. My "Introducing..." series and monthly quizzes are just two of the ways I'm working towards a more collaborative webpage.  

It's so exciting to log into Blogger and see the little number beside "published" read 100. Perhaps in two more years, it'll say 200? Who knows! Anyway, I want to thank you all for reading and I'll see you all in my 101st post! 

Q: How many blog posts have you written so far?

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Knowing When to Take a Blogging Break

Around a month ago, I took my first blogging break of the year. Since January, I'd followed quite a strict blogging routine so having to turn my back on my blog for that two week period was really tough. It was around this time that all my final Uni assignments were due and even though I hadn't done too bad managing these sort of deadlines in the past, I think all the energy and inspiration I'd had at the start of the year was beginning to run low. My initial ideas for these assignments were either too far fetched or not ambitious enough. For some reason, it took me ages to establish a good topic/theme for all of my projects. I just couldn't see it possible for me to put together a blog post with all the stress surrounding my courses. It wasn't an easy decision to make but the moment I shared my Instagram photo announcing my break, I knew I couldn't back out. It was really disheartening to know that I'd ruined my blogging streak, but looking back on it now, I'm really grateful that I took that break when I did. 

Putting Your Wellbeing First
With anything that requires a lot of your time and commitment, it's important to know when to stop and step away. There's always the chance of overdoing it or burning yourself out. I'd thought I'd got the hang of balancing blogging with everything else but since circumstances are always changing, this of course wasn't going to be the case forever. Just because something was easy before, doesn't mean it'll always be this way. If you've already got enough on your plate, you don't need to prove anything to yourself. 

Not Writing Because You Have to
Bloggers along with other social media influencers and content creators know how important it is to be consistent with their posting and uploading schedules. Because of this, I think it's easy to fall into that trap of simply putting out a post for the sake of it. You don't get any enjoyment or satisfaction out of it but at least you can tick it off for the week. I was so focused on my Uni work, it was really hard for me to think of a blog post idea that made me feel excited or happy to sit at my laptop and write it. This was another reason I chose to take my blogging break. Not only did I have very little time to put out a post but I didn't want to have to force myself to write a post that I was only half-interested in. 

Rediscovering Your Passion
At the end of my break, when all my assignments were in, I wanted to get back into blogging straight away. I realised that I had actually missed tending to my blog and even though Uni had been my everything for those two crazy weeks, my blog was always somewhere at the back of my mind. While I had left my blog feeling quite lost, I was able to return to it with fresh eyes which definitely made my little break a lot more worthwhile. 

Thanks for reading! 

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The Behind The Scenes of my Blog Photos

If you look at my blog images, you'll see a lot of neatly arranged, carefully edited, flat lay photographs. The mess and chaos that goes on behind the camera is completely overlooked. Believe it or not, my room turns into a complete pigsty every time I go to take a new blog photo. This is because I won't hesitate to turn my room upside down in search of the perfect combination of props. For this week's post, I thought I'd reveal this side of the blog photography process. It really goes to show that there's much more to a photo than meets the eye. 

 

These two photos highlight the before of my room. Whereas my thumbnail photo shows how untidy it can get. I am very picky with my props so I like to lay out all my options on my bed then select my favourites from there. My desk holds a majority of my best props so I always like to look there first. 

Once I've chosen my props, I like to transfer my whole setup to the best window spot in the house. It gets the perfect amount of natural sunlight. As you can see, I always have to make sure I don't include any of the wooden texture in the final frame. 

Thanks for reading! What did you think of this little BTS post? Let me know down below! 

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4 Ways to Come up With Blog Post Ideas

Coming up with new blog content can prove difficult at times. Especially when life gets hectic and your brain is trying to juggle a million other things. I've been really busy recently which is why blog post ideas haven't been coming to me as often as normal. When this happens, there are a couple of things I like to do to get the ball rolling. If you're in a similar position to me and have a lot on your plate at the moment, here are 4 ways to come up with blog post ideas both quickly and easily. 

Watch YouTube 
YouTubers are getting more outrageous and creative with their content with every passing day. Because of this, it's a great platform to get inspiration from. While YouTubers and bloggers work in two very different ways, there is still that same purpose of wanting to produce fun/interesting content for their audience. Because of this, I still think it's possible to base a blog post off a YouTube video and still get a really similar outcome.  

Reflect on Your Week
If you want a more personal approach towards coming up with blog post ideas, use a weekly journal. Every day write a bullet pointed list of the things that happened to you. Consider each thing carefully and if something you put down really resonates with you then make the most of it and just run with it. It's always nice to write about something when the experience is fresh in your mind and this is a really great way to do so. 

Look at Past Content 
There are plenty of ways to make use of old blog posts. If you really enjoyed writing a particular post, make a 'Part Two' building on from what you've already written. If you wrote about something in the past that you completely disagree with now, talk about how your feelings towards this subject have changed. If you have a post that you think is really important to share and discuss but the information is slightly outdated, write a more recent version. Your blog archives are a great place to get inspired so definitely refer back to it when you can. 

Read Other People's Blogs
It's completely okay to want to write a certain type of post after reading it on another person's blog. If it's a topic that excites you or something that you feel like you could talk about for hours on end then there should be nothing stopping you from logging on to your blog and getting started. While copying word for word is completely unacceptable, offering your own ideas or opinions on the subject is perfectly fine. There should definitely be a level of respect when recreating another person's post on your own site. As long as you've put your own unique spin on things, then no harm's been done. 

Thanks for reading! What do you do if you're struggling to come up with blog post ideas? Let me know down below!

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8 Blog Posts That Are Special to me

I've written just over 70 blog posts since starting The AnnieChanie Blog and as much as I love each and every post I've published, there are just 8 out of the 73 that really stand out to me. 

1. My Favourite Pastel Coloured Fashion Items
I was really happy with the overall aesthetic of this post. All the colours and images came out just the way I wanted them to. My extreme love for pastels really shone through and there's no other blog post that showcases this more. 

2. Starting University 
This blog post was quite hard for me to publish. There were some things I didn't even realise I was feeling until I'd finished writing this post. I didn't need to put it out into the open but I'm still really proud of myself for doing so and the support and uplifting messages from readers made me value my decision even more. 

3. Room Tour 2018
I've always been an avid watcher of room tour videos on YouTube so being able to share one of my own was really special. My room means a lot to me so I found it really cool that I was able to dedicate an entire blog post to it. 

4. What I Bought on Holiday (Australia)
I've been really happy with my blog photos from the past month but my favourite still stands. The main flat lay from this haul post turned out so different to what I intended it to look. I think that's why I loved it so much. It was so unlike any other flat lay I'd ever taken and there's still no other photo of mine quite like it. 

5. Blog Anniversary Post (1 Year of Blogging)
I couldn't write a list of special blog posts without including my 1 year anniversary post. It was such an amazing thing to be able to say I'd been blogging for 12 months. I was really glad I was able to mark this milestone with a blog post. 

6. (Graceful Avenue) Mishka Mail Review
This review was my first ever collaboration with a brand/company. When I got the email about this post, I danced around my room for a solid 2 minutes. I'll never forget the euphoria I felt on that day. From working with the lovely Naira to actually receiving her personalised package in the mail, everything that went on behind the scenes was what made this blog post so very memorable. 

7. What Type of Blogger Are You - Quiz
This was my first ever monthly quiz and I had no idea how reader's would react to it. I had nothing to worry about though because, as always, the blogging community was very encouraging and positive. I was so grateful to everyone that took part.  

8. My Blog Journey so Far
I got my first ever blog comment on this post. I had no idea a stranger's words could mean so much to me. But Elizabeth's comment did. And what she wrote on my blog that day will stay with me forever. 

Thanks for reading! Do you have a blog post that's special to you? Let me know down below! 

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Podcasts For Bloggers

A month or two ago, I decided to listen to my first ever podcast. I'd heard the word "podcast" thrown around a couple of times but never got around to investigating them further so when my friend mentioned just how much she enjoyed listening to them, I decided to take action. Now I'm on the podcast app nearly every day. My favourite type of podcasts are the ones about/for online creators. If there's an episode interviewing a blogger, you can bet I've listened to it. Every time I listen to these interviews, it's impossible to not feel inspired or empowered afterwards. I absolutely love hearing about how people found blogging and why they decided to start their blog. I think it's great that no two blog journeys are the same and that every blogger has a different story to tell. In the beginning, I found it particularly tricky to find blog-related podcasts which is why I decided to put together this post. If you're a blogger and are interested in listening to podcasts, here is a list of some shows and episodes that I think you'll enjoy. 


One Girl Band 
(Ep 40) Kristabel Plummer // Carving and Growing Your Blogging Career


Made Online 
(Ep 9) Hannah Gale (Blogger Of The Year 2017, Mum-To-Be & Ex-Digital Magazine Editor)


At Home With...
(Ep 2) KATE JOHNSON - Blogger, Kate La Vie


Ctrl Alt Delete 
(Ep 39) Megan Gilbride (Blogger): The Business of Blogging, Brands & Body Image


The Creative Leap
(Ep 1) MEGAN ELLABY - Style Blogger


What She Said
(Ep 20) with Rosie Chappel // Cider with Rosie

Thanks for checking out this week's post! Do you listen to podcasts? What are your thoughts on them? Let me know down below! 

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Making a Media Kit For my Blog

Creating a media kit for my blog has been at the back of my mind for quite some time now. I think it's such a useful document to have, not only for brands, but for yourself as well. I consider it a record as much as I consider it a resume. I found it really enjoyable, compiling all my blog's info and then displaying it on a page. It was a great opportunity for me to really nail down my blog's profile as well as get an idea for my where my strengths lay and where my areas for improvement were. 

The first step I took in creating my media kit was scrolling through existing designs on Pinterest. Once I had found a couple of layouts/compositions that stood out to me, I was able to go on to Photoshop and get straight into making my own. Something that I probably should of done before actually starting the design process, was figure out what kind of information I was wanting to include. I realised, halfway into making my media kit, that I was trying to cram way too much info onto the one page. And a majority of the stuff I was wanting to add wasn't even that necessary anyway. I was basically just reiterating what I had already mentioned/ written about. If I were to make another media kit, I would make sure that I properly plan out the information side of things. 

Since I'm such a visual person, I was really keen to incorporate both photos and graphics into my media kit. It was definitely a balancing act making sure the ratio of writing to imagery was even but I think I managed to achieve a good in between. Overall, I'm quite pleased with how my first ever media kit turned out. Here's the final product! 

Thanks for reading! Do you have a media kit for your blog? Or if not, are you thinking about making one?

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How I Revamped my Blog

A few months ago, I gave my blog a little makeover. I didn't want drastic change, I just felt the need to tweak a couple of different things. I'm someone who really enjoys working on Photoshop so for me it was a really fun and creative process. As much as I love the photographic and content creating side of blogging, I enjoy the web design aspect just as much. For today's post, I thought I'd share the steps I took in revamping my webpage. If you're wanting to update your blog design, hopefully this gives you a little bit of inspiration! 

Making a New Header 
My header is top and centre so I made sure to take my time redesigning it. When considering different fonts and graphics, I decided I didn't want to stray too far from my original design. The composition of the old and new header are very similar/ almost identical with my profile on one side and the text on the other. Since I'd already established a certain colour scheme on my blog, with the pastels and pale shades of pinks, I thought it'd be a good idea to carry it through. As I said before, I didn't want to make any big adjustments, I just wanted to renew or slightly improve on what I already had. I was really happy with my new header because I felt like it was a lot more modern and mature and also a lot easier to read. 

Creating a Profile For my Home Page
While I was editing my blog design, I was doing a lot research on what makes a good webpage. This was where I came across the idea of placing a profile image in your sidebar. I realised this was something that I'd thought about in the past but just never got around to doing. I think profile pictures are great because they allow you to put a face to the blog. I'd added one to my "About Me" page but not to my actual home page. When creating my profile image, I decided on a recent photo and made sure to attach a link so that when readers clicked on it, they'd be taken over to my bio anyway. I really liked how my profile turned out and thought it was a very functional addition to my home page.  

Decluttering/ Editing my Sidebar Widgets
The last step in my blog makeover process was going through my sidebar and getting rid of anything that didn't necessarily need to be there. For some reason, I'd initially had two Bloglovin' widgets that connected to my Bloglovin' account. I figured that one was enough so I got rid of the other and replaced it with my profile image from above. There's nothing wrong with removing widgets to make room for new ones. That way, you can be sure you're making the best possible use of your sidebar space. I then edited my "Email Me" graphic so that it followed the aesthetic of the rest of my edits. 

   

Thanks for reading! Are you planning on changing up your blog design anytime soon? Or are you really content with your webpage at the moment? Let me know in the comment section below! 

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Sunshine Blogger Award

Earlier this month I was nominated for the Sunshine Blogger Award by the lovely Catherine at workingwithbipolar.blogspot.com. Thank you Catherine! I'm so excited to be answering your questions! Definitely check out Catherine's link! Her content is so interesting and informative!

The Rules:
1. Thank blogger(s) who nominated you in the blog post and link back to their blog. 
2. Answer the 11 questions the blogger asked you.
3. Nomiate 11 new blogs to receive the award and write them 11 new questions. 
4. List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post and/or on your blog. 




Catherine's Questions:

1. What are some songs you have on repeat?
I've been playing my Kpop playlist constantly! Rather than playing a couple of songs on repeat, I just go through the entire playlist from start to finish. 

2. What do you do when you feel down in the dumps?
Whenever I'm feeling a little under the weather, I like to treat myself to a relaxing evening. I'll take a nice warm bubble bath, get into my comfiest pjs then watch my favourite movie in bed. 

3. What can you not live without?
At the moment, it's probably my phone. I'm on holiday at the moment so it's helping me keep in touch with the people back home. 

4. Who is your hero?
My parents are my heroes. They've done so much for my brothers and I. I look up to them both so much. 

5. What is a book you would read over and over again? 
Any Agatha Christie book. Every time I re-read one of her mysteries, I always pick up on something I missed in a previous reading.  

6. What do you aspire to do in the future?
I really want to work in advertising. My dream is to see one of my designs on a bus stop or billboard. That would honestly be amazing! 

7. What do you do on your down time?
Read, blog and scroll through social media. 

8. How do you stay focused?
My bullet journal. I like to track my goals and daily productivity in this book. Recording my progress helps me keep motivated.

9. How do you stay organised? 
Writing lists. This has a similar concept to the above answer. When it comes to completing my tasks/chores, writing them out makes all the difference. 


10. What are you passionate about?
Anything to do with memory keeping. Taking photos, collecting keepsakes and journalling are all things I feel very passionate towards. 

11. If you could meet one person, living or dead, who would it be?
Zaha Hadid. Her buildings are incredible! I've been really into architecture recently and her work is, by far, my favourite!  

My Questions:

1. What's your favourite item of clothing in your closet at the moment?

2. Do you like watching tv shows or movies?

3. How do you usually plan your blog posts?

4. What's something you're hoping to learn/accomplish this year?

5. When do you like to write your blog posts?

6. Would you rather swim with sharks or skydive?

7. Do you prefer sweet or savoury food?

8. What's your favourite thing to do with friends?

9. How do you like to spend lazy days at home? 

10. What advice would you give to your younger self?

11. If you were to make a movie of your life, what famous person would you get to play you? 

My Nominees:

Bexa at hellobexa.com

Rachel at wherethewildthingsgrow.blogspot.com

Rebecca at rebeccasreviews.com

Lena at lenadeexo.com

Molly at mollybblogs.com

Tracy at iamtracynicole.com

Jasmine at thoughtsfromjasmine.wordpress.com

Amy at amymayedmonds.wordpress.com

Cece at thethriveoclockhour.wordpress.com

Lisa at lisasnotebook.com

Carly at alltheglossblog.wordpress.com

If you give my questions a go, please let me know as I'd love to read your answers! Thank you once again to Catherine for tagging me! 

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My Blog Photography Tips

I love photography but am by no means a photography expert. The reason I decided to write this post is because I feel like my confidence behind the camera has grown so much from when I first started blogging to now. In today's post, I'm sharing my four personal tips for blog photography. Here are the things I've learnt through taking my blog photos. 

1. Use Less Props
Personally, I find less props a lot more manageable to shoot. Especially in terms of composition. Before I even get my camera out I tend to shuffle the props around quite a bit so having less items in the picture means I can be more flexible with my arrangement. If you're like me and are very particular about the layout of a photo, I think it's a good idea to limit yourself to five or six props per frame so you're not wasting time moving a dozen or so items every time you change your mind about a composition. 

2. Take Multiple Shots From Different Angles
Once I've created a prop layout that I'm happy with, I'll photograph it multiple times, adjusting my camera positioning after each shot. Experiment with different angles by constantly moving around your set up. That way, you're not limiting your photos to one reoccurring perspective  Flat lays are known for being a blogger's go-to photograph but that doesn't mean you can't play around with other kind of camera shots as well.  

3. Photograph Near a Window
Windows are your best friend when it comes to photographing indoors. There's a spot in the house living room that I find myself constantly going back. It gets just the right amount of natural sunlight. When it's hot summer's day, I like to photograph in the late afternoon so the light isn't so intense however if it's cooler outside then I'm more likely to photograph mid day. When it comes to natural lighting, you have to be adaptable. It may not be as predictable as other kind of lighting however it will provide you the best results in the end. 

4. Find Your Ideal Editing Program
When it comes to editing my photos, I like to use Adobe Lightroom to brighten my images and then canva.com to crop them to size. There are an abundance of photo editing apps and websites out there, it shouldn't be too hard finding one that accustoms to your photography needs. If you're not happy with your current editing process, don't be afraid to change it up a bit. You want to find an editing program that is compatible with you and your photography style so if something isn't quite working for you, it may be a good idea to try something new.

Thanks so much for reading! If you have any blog photography tips you'd like to share, feel free to leave them below! 

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Blog Anniversary Post (1 Year of Blogging)

Today, December 3rd, is my blog anniversary. Which means just one year ago, The AnnieChanie Blog consisted of only a header and a sidebar. I can't believe my little blog is one year old. To me, this is such an exciting milestone. Over the course of 365 days, I've refined my skills in digital illustration, mastered the art of flat lay photography, had two positive experiences with two different companies and most of all, connected/interacted with a lot of incredible bloggers from around the world. 

I'm really proud of what I've accomplished so far. On my blog, I've published 44 (45 now) posts in total, which on average is around 3.67 posts per month. Rounding it up, that's pretty much a post a week. When I first published on The AnnieChanie Blog, I made a promise to myself that I'd be consistent with posting. And a part from two slip ups, I've managed to uphold this goal. Even though I'm very happy with my little corner of the internet, there are still things I'm hoping to improve on for the upcoming year. For one, I really want to have a set day that I post. At the moment, I aim to have them up by Sunday but if I finish writing Friday/Saturday, I feel the need to post it straight away. For some reason, I really don't like have completed posts in my draft box. This is something I definitely need to work around for 2018. I also want to post more of my design work online. I've been thinking of doing a "design-a-day" type series where I share my digital illustrations everyday for a month. I'm also hoping to set up a portfolio/gallery page sometime in the near future. This will probably require a bit of experimenting with code but I'm definitely up for the challenge!

To finish off this momentous post, I'd like to thank every one who reads/comments on my posts. It makes me so happy to be able to share my writing online and when you take time out of your day to check my page out, it makes everything just the more worthwhile. I'm so glad 2016 me decided to take the leap and give blogging a go. These past 12 months have been such a learning experience for me and I'm so excited to see what the next 12 months have in store! 

As always, thanks so much for reading! 

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The Liebster Award 2017

I'm so excited to be answering another set of questions for The Liebster Award tag! Thank you to Bexa for nominating me! Definitely check out Bexa's blog at hellobexa.com. She has a beautiful web page and I know everyone would really benefit from reading her posts. Her content is guaranteed to teach you something new!

The Rules:

1. Answer the 11 questions that your nominator has asked you 

2. Nominate 11 other bloggers 

3. Ask your nominees 11 questions. 

4. Let them know you nominated them!

Bexa's Questions:

1. What inspired you to start blogging?

I found a YouTube video in my suggested video section about starting a blog and after watching it I just knew I had to give it a go.

2. If you had £500 to spend solely on blogging (eg. equipment, content for blog posts) how would you spend it?

A blog planner and heaps and heaps of blog photo props - artificial flowers, confetti, patterned paper and pretty stationery!

3. How did you come up with the name of your blog? 

AnnieChanie has been my nickname since forever so it seemed fitting to have it somewhere in my blog name. 

4. Have you ever visited somewhere (a town, country, restaurant, event) just because you read about it in someone's blog?

Sadly, no. :-( Most of the blogs I read are UK based so even if I did like the sound of a place/event, it wouldn't really be possible for me to visit. I definitely keep note of them though, in case I do end up travelling to the UK sometime in the future.  

5. What is your favourite non-blog website?

I've been obsessed with Etsy lately! It really showcases people's creativity and as an enthusiastic creator myself, I find it really inspiring. 

6. Besides blogging, what are your other passions and interests?

I love reading, redecorating my room and creating things - whether that be with my hands or on the computer.  

7. What is your favourite book?

This is such a tough question because there's so many books that I love! Around this time of year, I really like reading Let it Snow by John Green, Lauren Myracle and Maureen Johnson. It's my favourite festive book! 

8. Where would you like to go on holiday next?

I have my heart set on Japan! I've been trying to convince my Dad to let us have our next family holiday there! 

9. What film can you watch over and over again?

The Clique. I used to watch that film all the time! I haven't seen it in a while though.. I'm tempted to watch it again after finishing this post! 

10. Are you doing Blogmas this year?

I really hope so! I'm in the process of planning some Christmassy posts but I still haven't had a chance to bring these ideas to life! 

11. What are your future dreams and aspirations for your blog?

I've learnt so much from blogging already so I'm excited to see what else having my own webpage will teach me. For example, my coding knowledge is very limited so one of my goals is to gain a better understanding for the technical aspect of my blog. 

My Questions:

1. What's on your Christmas Wishlist this year?

2. What's your favourite blog post that you've ever written?

3. Are you an introvert or an extrovert?

4. What's the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?

5. Describe your perfect day?

6. What's your favourite blog photo prop at the moment? 

7. What's the best piece of blogging advice you've ever received?

8. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

9. Who do you wish you could swap lives with for a day?

10. What's your favourite blogging related app/ social media platform?

11. What's the first word that comes to mind when you hear the word "Christmas"?

My Nominees:

Buttercup at typicallyuntypicalteen.wordpress.com

M at theyoungculture.wordpress.com

Chloe at imjustagirl16.co.uk

Ellie at headintheclouds.me.uk

Hebah at hebahpervaiz.co.uk

Katie at katiethehen.wordpress.com

Bee at lifeofbeee.wordpress.com

Chloe at chloeluye.wordpress.com

Tizz at ranteatsleeprepeat.com

Rebecca at beccariassecret.wordpress.com

Amy at fashionbeautyamyblog.wordpress.com

Let me know if you give my questions a go! I would love to read your answers! Also, I'm sorry if I've tagged you and you've already been nominated. I just can't seem to keep track of who's done this already. Thanks for reading! 

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Skills You Gain Through Blogging

Deciding to start a blog was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Since starting my own website, I've learnt so much about myself and what I'm capable of. Blogging has definitely had a positive influence on my life and I would recommend this hobby to anyone and everyone. No matter how long you maintain your blog for, whether that be a month or two years, you're guaranteed to take something really valuable away from it. Today, I'll be writing about the skills I have acquired through keeping a blog. Let me know if you're skill set is similar to mine! 

Self-discipline
Everything to do with your blog relies on you and your commitment to the hobby. Time management is so important. Not only must you be able to set deadlines for yourself, they must be realistic enough in order for you to see them through. In terms of time pressure, there is definitely quite a bit of flexibility with blogging. When managing your own website, no one is telling you what to do or when it's due. It's all up to you. Because of my blog, I have a much stronger work ethic and a better sense of responsibility. 

Communication Skills
Your blog is a reflection of you and your personality therefore it's natural for your own personal values and beliefs to come through in your writing. Blogging is a way for me to arrange my thoughts, making it easier for me to articulate these in real life. Through creating content every week, I've been able to really refine my writing style and written ability. 

Online Confidence
Blogging has really opened my eyes to the world of coding and web design. Not only that, it has opened my eyes to the tools and platforms I had little to no association with before starting a blog; these being Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Twitter and Bloglovin'. Having a regular online presence and knowing how to promote yourself on social media not only proves helpful to blogging but to any other passion as well which is why I'm glad I've been able to really develop this skill through my blog. 

Perseverance
When it comes to maintaining a blog, everyone has their moments of self doubt. Blogging has definitely tested my determination and resilience but I'm thankful for this because it has helped me to grow as a person. I like to give my blog a little moment of attention each day, whether that be sharing my link on social media or planning my next post. Every little bit counts and I know that each time I tend to my blog, whether it's for 2 minutes or 2 hours, I'm putting myself one step closer to where I want to be. 

Thanks for reading! 

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