How to Get a Part-Time Job

Getting part-time work can be tough especially when you're starting out and looking for your first paid job. This is because most employers look for those who have been previously hired making it harder for those who've never been employed, to get work. In most cases, you need experience to get experience however getting a first job is definitely doable and with a little persistence, you'll soon find your way into the workplace.

Keep an Eye Out For Any Open Positions
Job vacancies are actually easier to find than you'd think. You just have to know where to look. Like with most other things, I'd turn to the internet first. Online sites are a great because they're able to narrow down your options for you, helping you find a job result that both interests you and works with your schedule. After online sites, I'd probably check social media as most companies post any open positions they have on their pages. Then if I still hadn't found a suitable job opening, I'd turn to the more traditional places such as newspapers and shop windows. 

Communication is Key
Don't be afraid to get in touch with businesses you'd really like to be a part of. Even if they haven't advertised an open position, it's never a bad idea to share your interest in employment with them. Though it's likely they will turn you down - which is understandable if they're not hiring at the moment - it doesn't hurt to leave your CV with them in case they need someone to help out in the future. While you can flick them a friendly email with you resume attached, sometimes going in and talking to them personally makes a really nice first impression.

Talk to Your Family And Friends
Get in touch with those who have already been through the job hunting process before. They're sure to have some good advice for you. And if you're keen to work at a company a friend or family member is part of, tell them. That way you'll be able to hear about possible job openings first hand. They may even be willing to recommend you to their employer themselves. As well as talking to the employees you know, talk to any business owners you know also. If you have a friend or relative that runs a company you think would be the ideal workplace for you, arrange a meet-up and let them know you're looking for part-time work. If you're really close to them, it's likely you won't have to worry too much about the interview/introduction process which definitely takes some of the pressure of you. 

I hope this post was helpful if you're still on the job hunt. Do you have a part-time job? If so, what is it?

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5 Ways to Get The Creative Juices Flowing

I'm someone who's constantly drawn towards any artsy task or project. Whenever there's opportunity to express my creativity or think outside the box, I'm always willing to take it. While I would describe myself as "creative" there are definitely times where I feel like my imagination has deserted me. Because I don't think I'm alone in getting this feeling, I decided to dedicate today's post to overcoming creative block.

1. Make a Mood Board
Doing some visual research is always a good place to start. Find artist models online that you can draw ideas from. Print off some of their designs and stick them to a pin board along with some motivational quotes, magazine clippings and a selection of your favourite photographs. I love being able to refer back to a mood board whenever I'm in need of inspiration.

2. Get Outdoors
If you've been sitting at a desk for a majority of the day, whether that's in an office or classroom, it may be time for a change in scenery. While a walk around the block usually gets the job done, I find scenic trails a great source of inspiration. Take a chance to really focus on your surroundings. When I go on these nature walks, I like to let my mind wander. Instead of forcing inspiration, I let it come naturally. Usually my best ideas come when I least expect them to.

3. Go to the Library
Reading is great way to help generate ideas. When you open a book, you're opened up to a whole new world of possibilities. Books are pretty much snippets of a person's imagination so what better place than a library to spark your own creativity. Libraries are great because their supply is so big and varied therefore you're almost always guaranteed to find something somewhere.

4. Put Pen to Paper

Keep a notebook with you at all times. As I've said before, inspiration can come at random. So make sure you're ready for it when it does. Anything that makes you stop and think, write it down. It's a good idea to record your ideas as soon as you get them because sometimes they disappear just as quickly as they come. Even the most crazy and impossible ideas can reawaken the imagination which will then go on to boost your creativity levels. 

5. Go to Bed
I know sleeping is probably the last thing you want to do but most of the time that overnight break is all you need to start that creative flow up again. Just because you're stepping away from something for the time being, doesn't mean you're forgetting about it for good. Don't feel bad about going to bed with your project unfinished because letting yourself sleep on your ideas will put you in the best possible mindset for the next morning.

Have I missed anything? Let me know if you do any of these or if you do something I haven't included!

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10 Facts About Me

Blogging relies a lot on connection and interaction. In order to get to know you're readers/other bloggers, you have to allow them to get to know you and sometimes finding that common ground is the first step to an online friendship. I liked the idea of sharing 10 facts about myself and while I struggled a bit around the 8th/9th point, I really enjoyed writing today's post. 

1) I'm obsessed with pigs, especially teacup pigs. A teacup pig is my dream pet. 

2) I'm really bad at finishing book series/trilogies. I prefer independent novels because you know you'll get a somewhat satisfying conclusion at the end.

3) I'm very indecisive. For example, I'll spend ages in one shop tossing up between two items I want to buy and then leave the store having bought something completely different instead.

4) I was born in New Zealand.

5) I've done ballet for over 10 years of my life. I only stopped this year so I could focus on design and finding a part-time job.

6) I can say the alphabet backwards. My friend taught me a couple of years ago and it's stuck with me ever since.

7) I'm short sighted but I wear night contacts that improve my vision while I sleep.

8) I love buying room decor and spend a majority of my savings on pretty fairy lights and pastel coloured desk accessories and throw pillows. 

9) I'm an introvert. I take a while to warm up to people and can be a little awkward at times. 

10) I hate clowns, planes and going to the dentist. They're my three worst fears. 

I hope you liked this post! Tell me something about yourself down below!

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Displaying Your Polaroids

Ever since I got my Instax Mini 8 camera a year and a half ago, I've accumulated quite a number of polaroid pictures. One of my favourite things about this kind of photo is that they're slightly unpredictable. You can't really trial a shot when camera film is involved so you're never guaranteed a perfect turn out. I think it's nice the way the image doesn't always come out the way you expect it to. It makes it much more exciting. With my collection of little images, there's always plenty for me to put on display. I've found that there are quite a few fun and creative ways to showcase your photos so I decided that for an inspiration post, I would share some of these ideas with you today. Here they are! 

Make Wall Art With Them
Use your polaroids to liven up any plain space you may have in your room. If you don't have any posters or wall stickers handy, polaroids are a great alternative. You could use them to form a shape or simply stick them up in rows. It's a simple and fast way to revamp any blank wall.

Attach Them to Some Cord
If you have a ledge shelf in your room, you could use a long piece of cord and drape it along the edge. Then just use small magnets to attach your polaroids. A photo garland can be nicer than any store bought room decoration because its more personalised to a specific person. Fairy lights and scrapbook die cuts also make a nice addition to this polaroid display. 

Make a Hanging Photo Mobile
All you need is a branch for the base of your mobile, some twine, some mini pegs and some beads or feathers to decorate. Then the design of your mobile is completely up to you. If you can't find a nice branch, a coat hanger works just as well. This display is easy to move/shift and is ideal for those who, like me, are constantly rearranging their room. 

Frame a Few of Your Favourites
Find some frames and then place a polaroid inside each one. To stylise this display, you could use washi tape to border your mini photo inside or make a pretty backdrop with watercolour paints. Place the frames on your desk or bedside table and keep your favourite memories close by. 

Thanks for reading this post! Let me know what you like taking photos of the most? 

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My Blog Journey so Far

I'm still pretty new to the ins and outs of blogging but I feel like I've definitely come some way since deciding to start a blog in mid 2016. Because I had absolutely no idea where to begin, I turned to the internet for some sense of direction. I went through heaps of youtube videos and existing blogs to learn pretty much everything I know now. I definitely underestimated the amount of time and effort involved in putting together your own blog site. A lot of the process relies on persistence. You can't expect to get things first time round and that's something I really struggled to come to terms with in the first couple months of blogging.

Last year was definitely a lot of trial and error. Before The AnnieChanie Blog, I had started 3 other blogs, all of which I neglected in the first 2 months. I felt like the niche of these previous blogs didn't fit quite right with me and their names and webpages never really showcased my personal style or taste. After my 3rd unhappy attempt at blogging, I felt like I was trying really hard to keep the passion alive. All of that initial excitement and anticipation for starting my own web page had been replaced by a strong desire to have a great blog with great content that I could claim my own. Looking back, I think my problem was that I was more in love with the idea of blogging rather than the blogging itself and that's why my first couple of blogs didn't really feel that genuine to me. I knew The AnnieChanie Blog would be different from the moment I decided on its name. It felt like a true reflection of me and a broad enough title for what I wanted to write about - lifestyle.

I'm still a newbie blogger and there's so much for me to learn but I can't say I haven't found out a lot already! For one, you can't give up too easily. If you're really determined to start your own blog then there's no reason why you shouldn't. Keep trying and eventually everything will fall into place. Another thing is that you shouldn't be afraid to put yourself and your content out there. Making myself known to other bloggers is something I've only recently started doing. Create a bloglovin' account, promote your posts on twitter and get your images all over Pinterest. What I've found is that when your using social media to connect with other bloggers, you're on your way to feeling like you're truly a part of the blogging community.

This has been my experience with blogging so far, what has your blog journey been like? What's one thing you've learnt from blogging?

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20 Random Acts of Kindness

For me, there's no better feeling than the one I get after doing something nice for someone else. It's amazing the way an unexpected act of kindness can instantly brighten a person's day. Here are 20 ways you can bring a smile to someone's face. Whether it's a stranger or loved one, your actions have the power to really work wonders on someone.  

1. Contact a relative you haven't spoken to in a long time

2. Sneak a nice little note into your friend's bag

3. Hold the door open for someone

4. Start up a conversation with someone you've never talked to before

5. Give your place in line to the person behind you

6. Gift someone a present, completely out of the blue

7. Shout your friend morning/afternoon tea

8. Write an uplifting message on a post it note and stick it in a public place

9. Compliment someone's work

10. Print out several inspirational quotes and leave them in mailboxes around your neighbourhood

11. Make a surprise visit to someone you haven't seen in a while

12. Give your change to a busker or street performer

13. On a busy bus or train, give your seat to a person standing

14. Leave a supermarket voucher in one of the trolleys

15. Tell your Mum and Dad just how much you appreciate everything they do for you

16. Bake something for someone special to you and leave it at their doorstep

17. Bring a sibling breakfast in bed

18. Smile at someone as you walk by them

19. Spend some time with an elderly person who may be lonely

20. Help someone who appears lost or in need of directions

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How to Stay on Top of Homework

Today's post is all about keeping up to date with school assignments outside of the classroom. Because of the subjects I take at school, I get little to no homework throughout the year and then an overwhelming amount at the end. While its not always possible to avoid homework stress, here are a few different ways you can make handling the workload a bit easier. Especially if you're like me and get all your assignments at once!

Keep a Planner to Record All Your Assignments And Their Due Dates
It's always good to keep a study planner with you so that the moment you receive homework, you can record it down straight away. When you know the deadlines for each of your assignments, it will help you to complete the work accordingly. People tend to gravitate towards the task they are most looking forward to doing however it's better to refer to due dates when deciding what assignment to work on first. Ordering your assignments by their deadline is the most effective way to get all your homework handed in on time and having a study planner will make sure you're prioritising the right task over another.

Set Yourself a Time Frame And Then Stick With it
Time management is essential when it comes to staying on top of your homework. Decide how long you want to spend on something and then follow it through, otherwise you can end up going overboard on just one task. This is especially important when you're given a lot of homework at once. If you focus too long on one assignment, the others lose out. Try and be consistent with your timeframes because then you're not working hours on one task only to work 15 minutes on the next.

Don't Leave Things to The Last Minute
It's understandable to set your homework aside when you have other chores and commitments to attend to but the best way to keep up your assignments is to get them out of the way as soon as you can. Don't wait until the night before to complete them. If you're really busy outside of the classroom,  make sure you're making the most of the down time you get inside of school such as lunch breaks and study periods. The amount of work you complete during that time is just less work you'll have to complete later on.

Know What Conditions You Study Best in
Find out when you're most switched on and where you feel most inspired, whether that's alone or with others, outdoors or indoors, morning or night. When it comes to studying, having a time and place that you can can rely on is really beneficial. Everybody's different so make sure you know what works best for you and you only.

Hope this was helpful in some way! Thanks for reading!

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DIY Desk Calendar

Today's post is a do-it-yourself tutorial. Something that I haven't done yet on my blog. I'm sure you've seen this DIY around Pinterest as it's quite well known for being both practical and ornamental. This desk calendar is quick, simple and doesn't require any expensive materials! 

Here's what you'll need...

A wooden picture frame (remove the glass)
3 metal hooks
26 white gift tags
Gold foil stickers (letters and numbers)

1. Once you've gathered your equipment, make sure 3 of your gift tags can fit inside the frame. 

2. After that's been checked, you can insert the 3 hooks. You can either space them evenly or distance the first hook slightly so the month and date are more separate. 

3. Divide the 26 gift tags into piles of 12, 10 and 4. Use your stickers to label the tags. The 12 are for the months, the 10 are for numbers 0-9 and the 4 are for numbers 0-3. 

4. Hang your tags on the hooks and you're done! It's a great addition to any office space and you'll never not know the date again!

Hope you enjoyed this quick and easy DIY! 

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5 Tips For Keeping a Tidy Bedroom

Keeping your bedroom mess-free isn't as time consuming as it might sound. You don't have to spend hours a week cleaning your room from top to bottom. It's just a tiny thing each day that can keep everything in order. Here are 5 ways you can keep a tidy bedroom. These steps may seem small but I can guarantee you they'll will have a big impact. 

1. Make Your Bed

A tidy bed can give the illusion of a tidy room whether or not everything else is in place. Try fitting this chore into your everyday morning routine. You could do it as soon as you wake up or just before leaving the house. It's a great habit to get into and once it's done, you're more likely to stay organised throughout the day. If you're still struggling to motivate yourself, buy a nice throw blanket and some pretty throw pillows to arrange on the bed for a more decorative take on the task. 

2. Put Things Away Properly

Things get lost when they're left where they don't belong. Even though it only takes a second to throw something on the floor, it doesn't take much longer to put an item in its rightful home. Knowing where things are now will make your life so much easier if you're ever pressed for time in the future and could mean the difference between a ten minute search and a quick grab and go.  

3. Get Rid of Things You Don't Need

Make sure you're not wasting valuable space on things you don't need or use anymore. Go through everything you own and either throw out or donate anything you haven't touched in over a year. 

4. Keep a Hamper in Your Room 

Having a hamper or basket will make sure dirty clothing is kept out of sight. It will also help you stay on top of your laundry if you have all your worn clothes in one place. 

5. Clear Your Desk Space

A tidy desk can give the room a more spacious feel. To get more surface space out of your desk, either keep items off to the side or leave less things on display. Taking the time to organise your smaller items will keep your desk from becoming cluttered. You can either hide these items in draws or store them in containers. For more practical items, such as pens and pencils, keep them in a jar on your desk so they are easily accessible. 

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Taking a Gap Year

I can't believe I'm in my final year of high school. There are so many decisions heading my way. It's all very overwhelming, especially for an indecisive person like me. I have to know what I want to study, where I want to study and even when I want study. I've been thinking a lot about whether or not I should take a year off between high school and Uni and have recently come to the conclusion that some time away from the classroom might do me some good. If there's one thing I know, it's that there's much more I need to know about myself before I can go on to make any life-changing choices. The only problem is, there's only so much you can learn about yourself while sitting at a desk. 

Like with any major decision, you have to weigh up the pros and cons. In terms of a gap year, there are obviously costs to consider and the fact that you'll be one year behind your friends when actually starting Uni, but I think that for what you'll take away from those 365 days, whether that's knowledge or memories, it'll be worth it. I think a gap year has the potential to be a real eye-opener. Even though I have a career path in mind, there's the possibility of that changing after spending some time away from school. A gap year would give me the chance to really experiment with different jobs and hobbies. If I really put myself out there, I might even discover a talent I never knew I had. Then I could turn that hidden passion into turn into the best future job I could have ever hoped for.

I think that if I do end up taking a gap year, I wouldn't regret it. In saying this though, I would make sure I used the time wisely. A gap year is the the perfect opportunity to grow as a person, to develop your strengths and overcome your weaknesses. You can become the best version of yourself that you can possibly be and for me, that's all I could ever want to get out of my year off. 

These are just my thoughts on taking a gap year. What do you think? Are you for or against?

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Ways to Earn Money (For Teens)

Today's list has something for everyone! Whether you like playing a musical instrument, being creative or working outdoors, there'll definitely be a job here to suit you and your personality. Making money is no easy task but I think if you choose something on this list that is similar to a hobby you enjoy, it won't even feel like a job at all! 

Babysit

Housesit for a neighbour

Busk with a group of friends

Do the paper round

Sell baking around school

Auction second-hand goods online

Get a part-time retail job

Work at a grocery store

Fill out paid surveys

Set up a car wash

Take on more jobs around the house

Mow lawns

Tutor

Sell crafts at a local market

Hold a yard sale

Assist an elderly person with their daily chores

Help out at a family business 

Coach a sports team

Sell your own homegrown fruits and veggies. 

Walk dogs

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How to Get Your Resolutions Done Next Year

2017 is just around the corner and with every New Year comes a new set of resolutions. This post is all about putting your goals into action, because I think we can all agree that writing them out is the easy part. Getting them done is where the real challenge lies. Here are a couple of ways you can make next year the year of achievement! Here's to a great 2017! 

Review Them on a Regular Basis
Don't lose sight of what you want to achieve. If you keep refreshing yourself on your goals, you'll feel more connected and committed to them. Keep your resolutions where you know you'll be able to see them at least once a day. You could put your them on post it notes around your room or write them down at the front of a daily diary/journal. I would definitely suggest using pen and paper to record your resolutions rather than typing them out on a computer or phone as they're more likely to stick in your mind. 

Take it Slow And Steady
The great thing about New Years' resolutions is that you have a whole 365 days to complete them. You can't rush success so don't stress if you don't get the results you want straight away. Sometimes it helps to break the resolution down into several smaller goals. That way you can maintain that motivation by checking off your smaller goals while striving for the big resolution. Remember, slow progress is still progress so don't be too hard on yourself if you're still not where you want to be.

Stay Positive
Make sure you're in the right headspace when reviewing your goals because if you start looking at them in a negative way, they'll feel further and further out of your reach. If you're struggling to keep up with your resolutions, switch your mindset. Instead of focusing on the end goal, visualise your life after the resolution has been complete and what sort of benefits this accomplishment will bring. 

Reward Your Accomplishments
As you work towards your resolution, don't forget to treat yourself to a little gift or day out for all the little achievements you make along the way. Plan a nice reward for the end of the year just to recognise the goals you completed. And if you don't manage to tick everything off by the time December rolls around, that's okay! That fact that you were willing to make a change in the first place is definitely something to be proud of. 

What resolutions do you have for 2017?

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