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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INTRODUCING... Nancy!

Introducing my new series "INTRODUCING..." where I share/write about a blogger on my blog. Not only will I give a short description of the person's site, I'll also put together a digital drawing for them as I've done for Nancy below. If you read my "How I Make my Photoshop Graphics" post, you'll know I've been really keen to do more digital drawings for you guys. I really want to thank Nancy for being so willing to take part. She responded so kindly when I asked if she'd be interested. If you'd like to be featured next, you can either DM me on Twitter or email me at theanniechanieblog@gmail.com.

INTRODUCING... Nancy!

On her blog, Exquisitely.me, Nancy likes to blog about her personal adventures and experiences and always includes a lovely array of photos in every post. Her food photography is amazing and whenever I read one of her foodie posts, I always end up craving whatever she's photographed. As a very all-rounded blogger, she also likes to share life lessons in order to inspire her readers be the very best versions of themselves. Check out Nancy's blog by clicking here. 

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Which 2018 Movie Should You Watch/Rewatch? - Quiz

I've been going to the cinema a lot recently. In fact, I've been seeing at least one movie a week for the past month. Because of this, I think that I can confidently say 2018 so far has been a great year for movies. For this week's post, I thought I'd do a quiz based around the films that have been released this year. Let me know your thoughts on the movie you get below! 

1. My go-to movie snack is...
A) Red liquorice.
B) Jelly babies.
C) Chocolate.
D) A box of popcorn.

2. A majority of the films I watch...
A) Make me feel like a little kid again.
B) Keep me on the edge of my seat.
C) Have a feel-good ending.
D) Involve amazing special effects.

3. Something that I loved as a child and am still quite fond of now is...
A) Disney channel.
B) Horror stories. 
C) Musicals. 
D) Comic books. 

4. I really enjoy watching movies with...
A) My younger sibling.
B) My boyfriend/girlfriend. 
C) My mum.
D) A group of friends.

5. I like the famous movie quote...
A) "To infinity and beyond."
B) "Say hello to my little friend."
C) "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."
D) "With great power comes great responsibility."

6. My ideal time to go to the cinema is between...
A) 12am and 2pm.
B) 6pm and 8pm.
C) 2pm and 4pm.
D) 4pm and 6pm. 

7. If I were to star in a movie, I'd want to play the...
A) Best Friend of the main character. 
B) Super villain. 
C) Romantic interest. 
D) Hero.

8. I prefer to watch a film that...
A) Is animated.
B) Has a lot of jump scares.
C) Includes a lot of singing and dancing.
D) Is based off a novel I've read. 

9. The TV series that I've been obsessed with recently is...
A) The Simpsons. 
B) Pretty Little Liars.
C) Glee. 
D) Arrow.

10. My favourite movie genre is...
A) Family. 
B) Thriller. 
C) Rom-com.
D) Action.

You should watch.......

(Mostly A's)
Incredibles 2
This film is exciting, sweet, funny and as all classic Disney movies do, is sure to lift your spirits. It's impossible to not fall in love with this super family. This movie is very all rounded with a lot of action, a bit of romance and just the right amount of comedy. 

(Mostly B's)
A Quiet Place
Right from the get-go, this movie is sure to make your heart race and your palms sweat. When watching the characters go about this terrifying world, you'll almost feel like you're right there with them. If you like movies with a lot of suspense, then this is the film for you. 

(Mostly C's)
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
This film is not only for ABBA fans but those who favour mushy films. This sequel takes quite a different approach to the first movie however it still has all the characters you'll know and love. If you like heartwarming, sentimental films then this is the perfect watch for you. 

(Mostly D's)
Avengers: Infinity War
This movie is one huge superhero collaboration with all the well known Marvel characters fighting against one extremely powerful villain. If you enjoy action films with amazing stunts and graphics, then definitely give this movie a go. 

Thanks for taking the quiz!

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Tips For Saving Money

Lately, I've been spending quite a lot on eating out and shopping trips to the mall. I used to be pretty good at saving my cash however for some reason, this hasn't been the case as of recently. I thought this post would not only help others but myself also. I need to establish some ground rules for keeping my spending habits under control. Let me know if you found this post useful in the comment section below!

Have an Ultimate Goal

Having a goal or something to work towards can be a great incentive towards saving. Your goal could be an experience like a holiday overseas or a physical thing like a new phone or laptop. The bigger the goal, the more satisfying it'll be when you do end up saving that amount. It's okay if during this process you feel like you're goal is still so far out of reach. It can take a little bit of time to build up that momentum but if you stick with it, you'll get the results you want in no time. 

Limit Yourself to a Certain Amount a Week

A great way to limit your buying is to set yourself a maximum amount each week. Once you've decided on a reasonable spending amount, keep it at the back of your mind wherever you go. Be strict with yourself because the more lenient you are, the more likely this won't have an effect. This method will help you make more responsible purchases and ensure you're not splurging unnecessarily.

Make the Most of Sales/Discounts 

Sometimes all it takes is a bit of patience to save you some dollars. If you see something in a store and you're really tempted to buy it, give yourself at least a week to deliberate. If you're really lucky, during that wait a sale may pop up and you'll be getting the thing you wanted for nearly half it's original price. Look out for when your favourite stores or restaurants are having any special deals/discounts. Even the smallest percentage off makes a difference. 

Thanks for reading! Do you know any other money saving tips? 

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My Favourite Floral Fashion Items

If you've read "My Favourite Pastel Coloured Fashion Items", you'll know that I've been trying to brighten up my wardrobe. Something that I've noticed since starting at a design school is that all the students are very expressive with their clothing choices. This is something that I really want to be able to reciprocate as I feel like it's such a great way to show off your creative self. As well as introducing pastels into my wardrobe, I've also started to bring in pattern. More specifically, floral patterns. Here are some of my favourite floral clothing items at the moment. 

Pink Dress

 

Jeans

 

Long Sleeved Top

 

Black Dress

 

Thanks for reading today's post! Do you like these kind of fashion posts? Let me know down below! 

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New Year's Resolutions - Progress Report #2

We're about two thirds of the way through the year which means it's time for progress report #2! I found it extremely beneficial reflecting on the first four months of having my 2018 goals so I didn't see why a second one shouldn't be just as useful. If you'd like to check out my first progress report, you can click this link here. I'm wondering whether I've continued moving forward with some of these goals or maybe taken a few steps back. This is what makes these update posts so interesting. You're able to monitor your progress so carefully. I'm looking forward to writing my final one at the end of this year. Hopefully everything is where it should be by then!

1. Drink More Water Throughout The Day
I've definitely recognised an improvement in this resolution. My drink bottle, which used to be still 3/4 full at the end of the day, is now completely empty by mid-day/the afternoon! I've really made a habit of bringing out my drink bottle as much as possible and now I can see that my efforts are paying off. 

2. Get my Restricted License
I've been driving quite a bit since I got my restricted. For some reason, I was a little hesitant to get back on the road after completing my test however my parents really encouraged me to keep up with my driving. And that's what I've been doing. Now I feel completely comfortable driving alone. It's a really great feeling to have. 


3. Commit to my Bullet Journal
This resolution has been going pretty well, like it was in progress report #1. As predicted, I've been able to stick with it all this time and on those rare occasions that I do miss a day or two, it doesn't take too long for me to get everything up to date again. 

4. Learn How to Cook
A little while ago, I had the opportunity to flat for a month with my friend. During this time, I learnt a lot about cooking/preparing meals. Each night, one of us would make something for the two of us. While my friend's meals were fairly advanced, I stuck with the basic pasta and rice dishes. For dinner one time, I found a mac and cheese recipe online and whipped it together in just under an hour. I was really proud of how it turned out. I feel like this resolution is definitely getting somewhere, for sure!

5. Time Manage my Blog Posts Better
In my last progress report, this resolution hadn't really been working out for me and I'm sad to say that the results haven't changed one bit. Here I am again, writing this post on the day it's supposed to be up. I feel like it's definitely starting to take a toll on the way I feel about blogging. If anyone has advice on how to time manage blog posts effectively, please leave it in the comment section below! It'd be much appreciated!  

6. Be More Active on Social Media
These past few weeks, I've been so busy with Uni that I haven't been as present on social media as I usually am. I still make a point of sharing my blog posts on Twitter and Instagram however checking these platforms is definitely not much of a priority these days. I think that once the mid semester break comes around, this resolution will be back on track once more.
  
Thanks for reading!

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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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What Welly Merck Watch Should You Buy? - Quiz

In my opinion, there's no other accessory quite like the watch. As well as being extremely useful, they're also very versatile and can work with pretty much any outfit. For today's quiz, I'm going to be focusing on a specific brand of watches. Welly Merck is a Switzerland based company with a very inspirational origin story. To Merck and his wife Welly, their watch line is a symbol of the hardships they overcame. The watches are all stunning in design and their unique features definitely make them stand out from the crowd. I'm excited to hear what Welly Merck watch you end up with! Definitely let me know your results down below! 

1. I want my watch to show I'm...
A) Fun.
B) Sophisticated. 
C) Professional. 
D) Approachable.

2. My favourite type of bracelet is the... 
A) Beaded bracelet.
B) Tennis bracelet.
C) Cuff bracelet. 
D) Charm bracelet. 

3. When I'm not at home, I spend a lot of time...
A) Outdoors. 
B) In the city. 
C) At work.
D) In a classroom. 

4. When it comes to accessorising, the _________ the better.
A) More outrageous
B) Sparklier 
C) More subtle 
D) Simpler

5. A majority of my jewellery is...
A) Stainless steel. 
B) Sterling silver. 
C) Yellow gold. 
D) Rose gold. 

6. The nail colour that I love wearing is...
A) Rose red. 
B) Milky white. 
C) Cocoa brown.
D) Bubblegum pink. 

7. I like a watch that...
A) Suits my personal style.  
B) Has a large watch face. 
C) Is comfortable to wear. 
D) Is very lightweight.

8. I keep all my jewellery...
A) On a jewellery tree. 
B) In my vanity draw. 
C) In my jewellery box.
D) On a trinket tray.

9. When it comes to the watch strap, I'd prefer it was...
A) Patterned. 
B) Mesh.
C) Thick.
D) Coloured.

10. The country I am most intrigued by is...
A) New Zealand.
B) America.
C) Netherlands.
D) Portugal. 


You Should Buy The _________ Watch.

(Mostly A's)
Classic Auckland


(Mostly B's)
Fighter New York


(Mostly C's)
Classic Amsterdam 


(Mostly D's)
Fighter Lisbon


Definitely check out Welly Merck's site if you'd like to take a closer look at any of the watches. I've only shown you a snippet of what's on offer. There's plenty more to discover on their website! For today's post, Welly Merck has kindly given me a discount code to share with you all! To get 15% off your order just type Annie-15 at the checkout. Thanks for taking the quiz!

* Welly Merck provided me with this affiliate code. All opinions are 100% my own. *

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My Favourite iPhone Apps/Games

In today's post, I'm going to be sharing my favourite iPhone apps, social media excluded. While Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest are all apps I love, I thought it'd make this list a little more interesting if I were to leave them out. If you're on the lookout for some new apps/games for your phone, here are some that I'd highly recommend checking out.  

Notebook
I love note-taking apps and this one is no exception. I used to carry a physical journal with me everywhere however now I don't feel so bad if I forget one because the Notebook app does the job just as well. I love the fact that there are so many ways of customising your notes. It makes the whole note-taking process a lot more fun. 

Spotify
Since I've started driving by myself, I've been able to play the music that I like to listen to. I love using the Spotify app for this. Because I'm still getting used to driving alone, having music in the background makes me feel a lot more comfortable and at ease. My parents have a very different music taste to me so when I used to drive with them, it was a lot more difficult to play the music I liked.

UNUM
If you've seen my Instagram, you'll know that my feed is pretty much all pastels and flay lays. I definitely have to give credit to the photo planning app UNUM because I don't know if my Instagram would look the way it does without it. I've tried a couple of other photo planning apps in the past but this one definitely works best for me. If I'm trying to decide between two photos it makes it really easy to see which one fits the theme better. 

Heads Up
This is a great game to play with a big group of people. If you don't know how Heads Up works, it's basically where one person holds the phone to their head and the other people have to act out what's on the screen. It's very similar to Charades. There are many different themes to pick from and while you play, it records the people acting so you get some really funny videos at the end of it. 


Episode
I've had the Episode game for years now. I like to go on it whenever I'm procrastinating about school work or chores. I think the idea of interactive stories is really clever. You're in charge of what happens to your character. Sometimes your choices can have big repercussions, other times none at all. It's definitely one of those games that you can play for hours on end.


Webtoon
I've loved graphic novels from a young age so I was so excited when I first heard about this app. Webtoon has a whole library of digital comic books to pick and choose from. I think it's great that the app showcases people's digital illustration skills. Every time I go to read a new comic, I'm reminded of how amazingly talented these creators actually are.  

Thanks for reading! What are some of your favourite apps/games at the moment?

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How I Make my Photoshop Graphics

It's no secret that I love using Photoshop. Over the years, it's become a program that I feel really comfortable using. Having a blog has definitely given me an excuse to use the program on a more regular basis. Without Photoshop, I definitely wouldn't have the blog design I have today. For today's post, I thought it'd be fun to share how I make my Photoshop graphics. While I was taking the screenshots, I didn't realise how little steps were involved. It's definitely quite a straightforward process so if you were keen on making your own Photoshop graphics, hopefully it's easy to follow! 

1. First I upload an image of my choice into Photoshop. I like to lower the opacity percentage to between 30 and 40. This makes it easier for me to execute the next step. 

2. Next I select the pen tool and change it to stroke black, line weight 3pt. With my image for guidance, I'll trace around what will soon become the outline for my digital drawing. Once I've hid the image from the previous step, this is what I'm left with. 

3. When I'm happy with my outline, I move on to colouring. I add a base colour to all the main sections using the brush tool, while the more detailed sections - such as the flowers - are saved for a later step. 

4. The next thing I add to my digital drawing is tonal variation. The eyedropper tool really comes in handy for this step. It helps me find lighter and darker shades that are close to my base colour. I'll also refer back to my original image to make sure I'm adding tone in all the right places. 

5. In this final step, I finish up colouring anything I didn't complete beforehand. I also like to add a background colour to make the image really pop. 

Thanks for reading! 
*On a side note, what would you guys think if I were to start a "Draw my Followers" series on my blog? Let me know in the comment section below! 

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Tips For Organising Your Wardrobe

I've done so much shopping this past month and a bit, my closet has reached full capacity. There's literally no space for anything else and it's become a bit of a mess because of this. I've decided I need to do a massive tidy up but if there's one thing I've learnt from doing my big bedroom clean ups, it's that organising my wardrobe is no easy feat. If you're like me and really struggle with your wardrobe space, here are some easy ways to keep your fashion items in order. 

Categorise Your Clothes
A great way to organise your clothing is by category; dresses, tops, jackets, pants, etc. Not only does it make your job a whole lot easier when putting together an outfit for the day, it also makes your closet look that much tidier. By grouping similar garments together, the space will look a lot less cluttered/jumbled. An even better way to order these categories is by length. Depending on whether you want a downward or upward slope, start with the shortest or longest item then work your way along. 

Invest in a Shoe Rack
If you're someone with quite a lot of shoes, a shoe rack is definitely worth buying. Shoe racks are not only a great way to display your footwear, they also put your wardrobe's floor space to good use. While shoe shelves are another good storage option, they don't take advantage of floor space like shoe racks do. A good way to arrange your shoes is by use. Place the ones you wear frequently on the top level and then the ones you wear less often on the lower levels. That way your favourite shoes are more accessible to you.

Store Bags on Shelves
If you have shelves in your wardrobe, I'd recommend saving them for your bags. Bags are probably the most difficult to organise while making sure they're still visible. Depending on the number of shelves you have, you could sort a bag per shelf. By giving each bag its own compartment, they would be less likely to get distorted/squashed. This would also allow you to see each bag clearly making it easier for you to grab the one you want in a hurry. 

Hang Other Accessories on Wall Hooks
Belts, scarfs and hats are often overlooked in terms of having a home. Because of this, they tend to get lost quite easily. A quick and easy solution to this problem is wall hooks. You can either buy an over-the-door hook rack or DIY your own by attaching individual wall hooks to the inner side of your wardrobe door. If possible, try and make the most of your door space. With the right equipment, it can become a really great storage option.

Thanks for reading! Did you find this post helpful? Let me know down below!

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What's Your Pinterest Style? - Quiz

Pinterest is the home of every kind of inspiration possible. For a long time, my obsession with Pinterest revolved around pastels and flat lays. At the moment, however, my favourite board would definitely have to be my fashion one. I've been posting to it almost every day! For this month's quiz, I'm going to see if I can guess your Pinterest style or just your fashion style in general. Let me know if I got it right or if I got it completely wrong! 

1. My go-to outfit is a...
A) Sweater and jeans. 
B) Top and skirt.
C) T-shirt and shorts.
D) Dress and cardigan.  

2. One of my favourite materials to wear is...
A) Velvet.
B) Satin.
C) Denim.
D) Wool.

3. My fashion is very much inspired by...
A) Old school movies. 
B) Style magazines.
C) Celebrities and famous people.
D) Store mannequins. 

4. My wardrobe staple is...
A) A warm turtleneck. 
B) A pretty blouse. 
C) Worn-out overalls. 
D) A stripy sweater dress.

5. The season I buy most of my clothes in...
A) Autumn.
B) Spring.
C) Summer.
D) Winter. 

6. The shoes I like to wear on a daily basis are my...
A) Ankle boots. 
B) Ballet flats.
C) Sandals.
D) Sneakers.

7. When clothes shopping, I am instantly drawn to anything...
A) Patterned. 
B) Sparkly.
C) With tassels. 
D) With faux fur. 

8. My clothes are predominantly...
A) Orange and green.
B) White and pink.
C) Brown and red.
D) Grey and black.

9. My favourite way to accessorise an outfit is with...
A) A cute hat.
B) A dainty necklace and matching bracelet. 
C) Some statement earrings.
D) A large hand bag.  

10. I get almost all my clothes from...
A) My local op shop.
B) H&M.
C) Online stores.
D) Uniqlo.

Your Pinterest Style is Very.......

(Mostly A's)
Vintage



(Mostly B's)
Feminine



(Mostly C's)
Bohemian



(Mostly D's)
Casual



Thanks for taking the quiz! 

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