One of the most important things for me when applying my make-up is that I make myself look as awake as possible. I suffer quite badly with dark circles under my eyes and you can also see my veins quite clearly. I absolutely hate it. No matter how much sleep I get or how much I stay hydrated, my dark circles will never seem to shift. But with make-up it gives me that option of hiding away the darkness and bringing some light to around my eye area, making me more awake and less like a zombie.
I can't be the only one who find's it hard to know what to post on Instagram. There's so much pressure to have a consistent theme and post daily, sometimes I find myself stuck in a slump of not knowing what to photograph and then end up not posting for a few days. If you're like me, then I hope the following ideas will help you to know what to post the next time you're stuck and need a little bit of inspiration.
1. Throw back picture - Simple and easy! Have a look through your photo collection and pick your favourite memory or a great photo you've taken and throw it back.
1. Throw back picture - Simple and easy! Have a look through your photo collection and pick your favourite memory or a great photo you've taken and throw it back.
2. Nails - Show us what you're wearing on your nails at the moment and what the shade is, so we can also got out and rock it!
3. Face (fotd) - What products have you applied to your face today? Have you gone for a different look than what you normally would? Share the details!
4. Ootd - What outfit have you decided to wear today? Casual? Lazy? Dressy? Maybe you're off out for an exciting day? Share with us what you've chosen to wear and where we can find these pieces.
5. Eye look - Are you a pro at eye make-up or mastered a perfect smokey eye or winged liner? Share your achievements.
6. Lip look - Same sort of thing but with lips! What lip product are you loving at the moment or what is your go to lip product(s)?
7. Haul - What have you recently picked up on a shopping trip or online order?
8. Favourite make-up products
9. Beauty essentials
10. Skin care essentials
11. Fashion essentials - What accessories or staple pieces are you loving? Is there a particular piece that everyone needs?
12. Your meal/food - I mean c'mon everyone love's food!
13. Day in the life - What have you been up to today? Have you gone out and done something fun? Are you chilling at home watching your favourite tv series? Share a moment with your followers!
14. Flowers
15. Favourite perfume/fragrance
16. Tumblr inspired - You know when you just don't know what to post, why not find a picture you love on Tumblr and repost it?
17. Pinterest inspired - The same applies!
18. Regram
19. Your favourite quote - spark some motivation and positivity to not only others, but you too!
20. Bedroom snippet - Snap a photo of a section of your room! This could be one of your shelves, bedding, your storage space or dressing table.
21. Your pet
22. Flat lays
23. Drugstore favourites - Skin products, hair saviours, make-up bits etc
Most bloggers will be familiar with the website Bloglovin. A site which allows you to follow other blog's, let your own readers have an easy way to stay up to date with your posts and discover new blog related content. The way Bloglovin readers can keep in the know about their favourite websites new content is simply through a RRS feed, that the owner can also link to their own profile by claiming their blog through the Bloglovin.
You may or not be signed up to Bloglovin as a content creater and have no idea where to start with it! But today I'm here to tell you ways you can get the most out of Bloglovin. Whether you're a newbie to the content world or you're someone who has never got on with it right from the day you published your first post. I know that some people don't find it useful and don't see much point to it. But hopefully this post today will be able to help you understand Bloglovin a little better.
Excuse the play on words there, but today's post is going to be all about the top tips to help you take pictures for your blog. These are some of the things I find helpful to think about when I've got my camera out, ready to snap a few photos for my posts and want to achieve the best imagine I can. I'm nowhere means a professional photographer or anything like that, I'm more like a beginner who has learnt how to take photographs properly, since I started blogging and is always trying to improve!
The weekend is the perfect time to not only chill or go and have some fun but also to do those small tasks that you have been putting off throughout the week. I find I'm more prepared for the week when I've been slightly productive during the weekend. Today's post is all about the five beauty things you can do at the weekend. These are the sorts of things you can do to prepare yourself for the week commencing, as well as cross off anything on your to do list. Plus their beauty related, so there's still an element of fun if you're a beauty lover!
So recently you might have seen my How To Blog On A Budget Post, where I shared some tips and advice on blogging on a budget. Today I thought I would present to you some post ideas that are budget friendly. You don't need to have money to blog. Sometimes the best and most read posts created are purely based on experiences, thoughts and by having a good old chat with your readers. You can simply read this list, take a look around you or gather some inspiration to build your own budget friendly post ideas.
Blogging when you have little or no money can be difficult. It can be demotivating when you're unable to go out and buy the latest product launches to then go home, try out the product and write a review. The same goes for when you want to buy some new clothes, put together some outfits and create a few looks for your blog posts. However it doesn't have to be that hard. There are so many things you can do to continue blogging without having to spend your money buying things for your blog. Here are some ideas that you could use to continue blogging whilst on your budget.
Use what you've already got - It's seem's straight forward, but using what you've already got is the easiest thing you can do. Rummage through your make-up collection, sort through your wardrobe, look through some old storage and you'd be surprised what you may find. You could do a round up of a certain favourite type of product from your collection, like lipsticks or you could talk about how your style has changed over a certain amount of years. There's so many ideas you could create from your own objects. This can really help make your post's unique to you!
Other examples of how to use what you've got, include finding old wallpaper samples, magazine pages or covers, newspaper, flooring, posters etc to use for photo backgrounds. Alternatively, you could look around the house for some blogging props to use, such as fake flowers, ornaments, notebooks, jewellery etc.
Tip: In terms of photography, using your phone camera and any free editing apps, is a cheap method in creating perfect photo's without having to spend a lot!!!
Use free options - Another option is that you could go use free options. An example of this would be to go look on social media and other blogs to gather some inspiration to form your own blog post ideas. Also you could search online for some free printable's to use for your blog. In terms of blog backgrounds, simply printing off whatever background image you would like off Google images and onto an A4 piece of paper is a free service to use. Another method is printing off any blogging worksheets, like a blog post planner, a stats tracker or a printable calendar to help keep you organised. All free to do!!
Tip: When you do spend, if a particular store you spend a lot in, has a points reward card scheme, such as Boots or Superdrug for example. Then sign up, get your card and collect points when you purchase something new. Over time you'll end up having enough points to treat yourself to whatever it is that you want!
Re-do old posts - Redoing your old posts is another free method. Maybe there are some posts that didn't get as much traffic as you would have hoped, since you loved the idea or maybe your style of writing has changed or your photography has improved. Why not have a go at redoing these posts and updating them for your readers. This also saves you some money, because you will already have what you need.
Write from experiences - Instead of lusting over what you want to buy and would love to review, why not get personal with some of your own experiences. Most people love being nosey and having an insight scoop into people's lives. C'mon don't lie now, we all do it and love it! Why not share some of your tips relating to a certain experience from your life. Maybe you've been through a difficult time, one that others can relate to and are seeking some advice. Why not share your tips and tricks with them. On the other hand, you could write about more positive experiences like a trip you went on, this way you can include some of your holiday photos and a description of your time there or places to visit in a guide form.
Look for cheaper alternatives - If you have caved in and cannot help but want to go out and spend, then a safer option than to splurge in one go, is to look for cheaper alternatives before you do. Looking online and comparing prices is a great way to start. Is there something you can get cheaper online or instore? Is there something you can get cheaper somewhere else? Is there a cheaper product alternative that does the same thing for the same quality.
Tip: Maybe you should ask yourself, whether or not you actually need it?!
Save!!!!!! - An obvious one, but maybe one we should all stick by. The urge to spend is real. But if you think logically about your money and set a proper budget in place, putting away some money at the end of the week or month isn't so bad. If there's something you really want but can't afford, then this might be the option you turn to. Maybe you want a new laptop, camera, some new products or a new outfit, some photography equipment, whatever it is you might be after. Opt for putting some money into a savings account or a pot each week/month, until you have saved enough to purchase that item you have been after.
Use what you've already got - It's seem's straight forward, but using what you've already got is the easiest thing you can do. Rummage through your make-up collection, sort through your wardrobe, look through some old storage and you'd be surprised what you may find. You could do a round up of a certain favourite type of product from your collection, like lipsticks or you could talk about how your style has changed over a certain amount of years. There's so many ideas you could create from your own objects. This can really help make your post's unique to you!
Other examples of how to use what you've got, include finding old wallpaper samples, magazine pages or covers, newspaper, flooring, posters etc to use for photo backgrounds. Alternatively, you could look around the house for some blogging props to use, such as fake flowers, ornaments, notebooks, jewellery etc.
Tip: In terms of photography, using your phone camera and any free editing apps, is a cheap method in creating perfect photo's without having to spend a lot!!!
Use free options - Another option is that you could go use free options. An example of this would be to go look on social media and other blogs to gather some inspiration to form your own blog post ideas. Also you could search online for some free printable's to use for your blog. In terms of blog backgrounds, simply printing off whatever background image you would like off Google images and onto an A4 piece of paper is a free service to use. Another method is printing off any blogging worksheets, like a blog post planner, a stats tracker or a printable calendar to help keep you organised. All free to do!!
Tip: When you do spend, if a particular store you spend a lot in, has a points reward card scheme, such as Boots or Superdrug for example. Then sign up, get your card and collect points when you purchase something new. Over time you'll end up having enough points to treat yourself to whatever it is that you want!
Re-do old posts - Redoing your old posts is another free method. Maybe there are some posts that didn't get as much traffic as you would have hoped, since you loved the idea or maybe your style of writing has changed or your photography has improved. Why not have a go at redoing these posts and updating them for your readers. This also saves you some money, because you will already have what you need.
Write from experiences - Instead of lusting over what you want to buy and would love to review, why not get personal with some of your own experiences. Most people love being nosey and having an insight scoop into people's lives. C'mon don't lie now, we all do it and love it! Why not share some of your tips relating to a certain experience from your life. Maybe you've been through a difficult time, one that others can relate to and are seeking some advice. Why not share your tips and tricks with them. On the other hand, you could write about more positive experiences like a trip you went on, this way you can include some of your holiday photos and a description of your time there or places to visit in a guide form.
Look for cheaper alternatives - If you have caved in and cannot help but want to go out and spend, then a safer option than to splurge in one go, is to look for cheaper alternatives before you do. Looking online and comparing prices is a great way to start. Is there something you can get cheaper online or instore? Is there something you can get cheaper somewhere else? Is there a cheaper product alternative that does the same thing for the same quality.
Tip: Maybe you should ask yourself, whether or not you actually need it?!
Save!!!!!! - An obvious one, but maybe one we should all stick by. The urge to spend is real. But if you think logically about your money and set a proper budget in place, putting away some money at the end of the week or month isn't so bad. If there's something you really want but can't afford, then this might be the option you turn to. Maybe you want a new laptop, camera, some new products or a new outfit, some photography equipment, whatever it is you might be after. Opt for putting some money into a savings account or a pot each week/month, until you have saved enough to purchase that item you have been after.
What are some of your tips for blogging on a budget?
Having basic fashion essentials in your wardrobe is a must for all of us, whether you're a fashionista or not. It's also always great to have a few items in your wardrobe that are out there staple pieces, ones that you may opt to wear for big events or nights out in town. However, it is more important that you have the necessary items for those more casual laid back days. Pieces that you can easily mix and match to create other different looks from, as well as those that never go out of style and you can continue to wear throughout each season.
Today I'm going to share with you three fashion essentials from my own wardrobe. One's that I find create the perfect casual yet stylish look. That is also great for all year round and can be easily paired with the current seasons must have shoes and accessories to remain bang on trend if you wish to.
Stiped Top:
Stripes are such a versatile pattern to where to suit all body shapes. There's also so many styles and colours you can choose from. Having a striped t-shirt in your wardrobe is not only a great basic piece, but also add's something that little extra to any plain outfit. My personal favourite is a black and white vertical striped top, just like this scooped necked one from H&M for £3.99. This t-shirt works wonders with so many different pieces in my wardrobe. For an effortless rock chick look, I pair it with some black skinny ripped knee joni jeans from Topshop, my leather jacket and a pair of heeled chelsea boots. But also this striped top can work great tucked into a high waisted skirt, whether that be a denim a-line skirt perfect for the spring/summer or a black faux leather pencil skirt great for the colder months. Also I have been styling it with my denim pinafore, which both items together work wonders and really makes the look put together.
Tip - If you're a short girl, vertical stripes are your best friend! They will help to elongate your body and give the impression you're a lot taller than you actually are. Same applies to curvier girls, but instead of making you look taller, vertical stripes will help make you look slimmer and less wide.
Jeans:
A pair of jeans is a major wardrobe essentials for anyone! There's so many styles and colours out there to suit tastes, but also body shapes and frames. Jeans are really wearable items to have in your wardrobe. They can be paired with almost every style of top, whether you decide to tuck your top into a pair of high waisted jeans or choose to let your garment flow over the top section effortlessly. Black and darker denim jeans are great for winter. Then opting for more of a lighter denim and white jeans are perfect for the warmer periods of the year. Or you could quite easily just mix and match all year round because of the versatility!
My personal favourite Jeans are those by Topshop, in particular their Joni Jeans and Jamie Jeans. These jeans for me fit like a glove. I'm only 4'11, so I take full advantage of their petite range and the length of their jeans are great for my small legs! They're also so comfortable to wear. They don't even make you feel like you're wearing jeans. I wear these pretty much most of the time, because of how easy they are to style and wear for everyday. Even at night, they can be used for a more dressier look and go from a day to night look with ease!
Leather Jacket:
A leather jacket is for me a wardrobe must. I have gotten so much wear out of mine the past few years. I'm pretty much live in it for most of Autumn, Winter and for when it's a bit colder in Spring. Leather jacket's are especially great for those times, you know when it's a little chilly and you just want to throw a quick something on over what you're wearing. Again another very versatile piece that will go with absolutely everything. Plus they never really go out of fashion. An item I believe it is worth splurging on, for the quality and wear for seasons to come. No wonder it is a great essential to have in your wardrobe!
They also create this rock chic girl vibe for everyday wear. Pair it with similar colours and textures, you can easily add to the theme of this piece. Leather jacket's are great for night outs also, for when you need a cover up, but don't want nothing too fancy or out of the way. Also I think they look great for when you have more of a relaxed outfit and you want to give a touch of edge to your look! A leather jacket is the thing to thrown on over the top to achieve this.
What are your wardrobe essentials? Share below!
When you want to interact, gain a following and promote your posts on social media, it can sometimes be hard to work out which platform is best for you and what will bring you the most traffic to your blog. After a good few months of blogging and using different types of social media for my blog, I think I have finally found one that happens to be the best platform for us bloggers.
It may or may not come as no surprise to you as to why I think Twitter is the best platform for bloggers. But in many ways I believe it has proven to be a really beneficial and useful social media network to link with your blog. It doesn't only help you to gain followers, share your random thoughts with others and check out what other people are up to. But it also can really help your blog grow, give you the chance to meet new people, work with brands and other bloggers, build relationships and so much more!!!
Community:
Twitter is great for getting involved with a community and particular one that shares the same interests as you. It is also such a good way to meet new people. The blogging community on twitter is great for not only social interaction, but to also gain advice and knowledge on things you might be struggling with, whether that's online or offline. One particular great way to get involved in the community is by joining in the blogger chats that happen almost every night each week. There's also a series of different types of chats to suit different bloggers that all have their own specific topic each chat. Just search whatever hashtag the chat is using into the search bar when a chat takes place and follow the chat that way. Also make sure you're joining in by asking questions, responding to them and chatting away to others. A list of some of the blog chats and times can be found here. Blogger chats have been proven to bring in lots of traffic to your blog, because not only are you chatting to others, but you're also promoting your blog and the posts you have produced.
The whole reason behind twitter is to follow others. The same applies for when you're a blogger, you can easily follow all your favourite bloggers to keep up to date with their latest posts, have a little nosey what they're up to behind the scenes and get to know some of the thoughts they experience daily that they are willing to share online. But you also can gain followers. To do this, make sure you include your social media links, in your posts or somewhere on your blog. This is a quick and easy way for people to follow you back. Also twitter is so easy for you to build relationships with your followers. They can really feel like they get to know the person behind the blog.
Promotion:
These days it's takes quite a big effort and hard work for your blog posts to get recognised. We'd all be lying if we said we didn't care whether or not we got views or comments. Because let's face it, we all do that little squeal of excitement when we gain a new follower, hit a milestone in our views and see that someone has took the time out to comment on our most recent post. It's so rewarding when that happens. Because the blogging community is so competitive, you have to be willing to use promotion as much as you can to gain that response you desire for your blog.
Twitter is amazing at getting the word out there about your blog and the posts you have created. It has a large audience, with people all over the world of different ages, cultures and lifestyles using this social media platform. With Twitter you are able to write a 140 character tweet, that also can include a picture, any links and hashtags of your choice. You can easily promote your latest post or blog within that requirement! Adding pictures to your tweets that are used in your posts can help you to stand out. It's more than likely people are going to click on a pretty picture, as opposed to a tweet that simply has a load of writing on it. Also using hashtags is a really easy tool to getting the word out there! The most popular ones to use are #bbloggers, #fbloggers, #lbloggers etc. People will search these tags to find relevant content that they are looking for and will more than likely see your posts pop up there.
Collaborations:
If you're lucky enough, brands or other bloggers might possibly reach out to you to work with them. In terms of brands, this could include anything from helping to promote a product or service, offering you a discount code off their services or products, to sending you free samples for you to try and review on your blog. This side of blogging definitely has it perks and can be very rewarding for not only brands, but also yourself as a blogger. Twitter can enable you to be recognised by brands who are on the look out for new bloggers or people to spread the word about their services/products to others of a similar audience. Some brands might even offer the opportunity for you to work with them simply by putting out a tweet advertising for bloggers. A great way yet again to keep an eye out is by having a look through the #bloggerswanted hash tag again. Those blooming hashtags! They're everywhere, aren't they?
If you're lucky enough, brands or other bloggers might possibly reach out to you to work with them. In terms of brands, this could include anything from helping to promote a product or service, offering you a discount code off their services or products, to sending you free samples for you to try and review on your blog. This side of blogging definitely has it perks and can be very rewarding for not only brands, but also yourself as a blogger. Twitter can enable you to be recognised by brands who are on the look out for new bloggers or people to spread the word about their services/products to others of a similar audience. Some brands might even offer the opportunity for you to work with them simply by putting out a tweet advertising for bloggers. A great way yet again to keep an eye out is by having a look through the #bloggerswanted hash tag again. Those blooming hashtags! They're everywhere, aren't they?
Also other bloggers might want to work with you and be on the hunt for some collaboration styled posts. This again can be a great way to support one another by working together to promote posts, but also to promote each others blogs to their own following. Not only is it beneficial, but it can also help you to build relationships with other bloggers and have lots of fun whilst doing so! The same as before, if you want to collaborate with someone, then why not be on the look out for anything that might pop up or you might even decide to seek others to collaborate with you?
Being Active/Social:
Seeing your blog grow is such a rewarding thing to happen to you when you are putting so much hard work into your blog. I have found Twitter the quickest and easiest way to improve my blog traffic through promotion and interaction. But twitter is a social platform. So making sure you're being social is essential. Making sure you are regularly talking to people, whether that's by answering any questions, asking questions of your own or even just letting people know that you loved their recent post can be some of the simplest ways to bring in growth all whilst being active. If people can see the hard work, dedication and that you are honestly genuine, then they will more than likely take an interest in you and the work you've produced.
Also if you find you cannot always be around your phone or laptop to promote your tweets, using websites like Hootsuite or Tweetdeck to schedule posts can be really helpful. It is basically pre-promoting your posts before hand, to suit around the times you've chosen and it means you can still continue doing those daily activities you have to do without worrying about needing to write a tweet. It does it all for you once you've scheduled it into place. This saves time and worrying. But also ensures traffic is coming in even when you're busy.
Research/Previews:
When you have a following on Twitter or any social media account for example, you can quite easily use the following you have to create any research you might necessary need to track your progress or see what it is your followers enjoy. Twitter has recently given you a polling option when tweeting. Setting up a poll about a topic that you might have been stuck on and need the help from others, can be great for reaching a decision that suits not only you, but the people who read your blog too. Although you can still just as easily, tweet a question and wait for others to respond back. This is great for more in-depth discussions! You can also use the response you get from promoting a tweet, whether they got more likes, mentions or retweets on them. This can enable you to see what most people enjoy. Twitter is also great for finding inspiration for posts ideas or photos.
Also it can be great for sharing previews of posts with your readers. You can give them a teaser of a photo, maybe even a short snippet of the introduction of your post or what your next post is going to be about! This will help to increase the drive towards your blog and will make people aware of what to expect from you.
As a whole, it is pretty evident to see why Twitter is a really useful, easy to use and traffic driving social media platform for bloggers to use. All these points that I have mentioned, can help bring in growth to you and your blog. Whether you want to meet new people, create a discussion, seek some advice, build your following, gain inspiration and feedback, collaborate and get yourself out there, Twitter gives you the chance to do all of this and much more!
What are your thoughts on Twitter in terms of blogging? What platform do you find works best for you?
Sometimes the small things in life are what makes us feel good and the most happiest. Today I'm sharing with you some of the things that instantly boost my mood when I'm feeling a bit down in the dumps. I hope they also make you feel good and instantly make you feel better when you're having an off day. Maybe you can use some of these things the next time you're feeling like this. Enjoy!
- Long hot baths
- Cupcakes!!!!
- Undisturbed sleep
- Sunshine
- A warm breeze
- Seeing your favourite singer/group in concert!
- Freshly painted nails
- Trying new make-up products
- Laughing!!!
- Roast dinners
- Matching your underwear
- Cuddles
- Going on walks
- Hard work paying off
- Fresh bed sheets to sleep in
- Finishing a great book
- Your pet greeting you when you come home
- Seeing friends you haven't seen in a long while
- Lazy days
- Wearing a new outfit
Share three things that instantly boost your mood! I'd love to read them.
You're probably sick and tired of seeing all the valentines stuff everywhere at the moment in shops and over the internet. I'm not one of these people to actually moan about Valentines Day. Maybe because I'm not single, but purely because even if I was I wouldn't be that bothered about it. For me, it's mine and my boyfriend's three year anniversary, so it's a pretty important day regardless whether it's valentines.
Whatever type of couple you are and whatever budget you might have, I have got some date idea's for you that will help the both of you celebrate this lovely day together.
FOR THE BUDGET FRIENDLY COUPLE:
If you're that couple who are strict on your budget, maybe you're saving up for a holiday or wanting to put a deposit down a house, whatever it is that may be holding you back from spending out, there is still so much you can do on a small budget and still have a great time together.
- At Home Spa - Run a bubble bath, light a few candles, grab some of your favourite pamper evening products and give each other massages. Nothing beats a good massage! It's relaxing, as well as soothing for you both.
- Do Some Baking - A fun activity and one you can eat afterwards is baking. You can pick up some cheap ingredients from your local supermarket and bake whatever you like. Cookies, cupcakes, biscuits etc. Plus it gives you the chance to work together!
- Go For A Walk - Drive to a new location near to where you live and go on an adventure. Maybe a beach, a new town or a wildlife park. This could take up a good few hours walking around and taking in the sights. If you don't want to drive, then go for a walk in your neighbourhood and reminisce about old memories.
- At Home Movie Day/Night - Put on some lounge wear, grab a selection of your favourite DVD's/box sets or sign in to Netflix, order a takeaway or grab your favourite snacks, climb into bed or on the sofa under a blanket together and spend the day or night watching TV. It cost's nothing, apart from the takeaway because everything else you've pretty much got already.
- Cook His/Her Favourite Meal - A pretty obvious one but cooking for your partner can really help them to see the effort you have put in for them. Whatever their favourite meal is, why not have a go at making it for them? Whilst it's cooking in the oven, set the table, light some candles and pour a drink.
THE INBETWEEN COUPLE:
You're not on such a strict budget, which means you can spend on this particular day. But you don't want to go too overboard on your spending. There are some affordable date ideas out there for you which will still ensure you're feeling like you're being treated and having a great time.
- Head To The Cinema - Another typical idea, but one that can you can both enjoy. If there's a film out that you both want to go see, then why not book some tickets to the cinema and spend the afternoon or evening watching that movie you've been itching to see. The cinema is basically a go to for couples on valentines haha.
- A Meal Out - Most restaurants in your local area are affordable and mean you can go treat yourself for a lunch or dinner out. Places like Pizza Express, Ask Italian, TGI's and other similar food outlets are great for those after affordable yet great quality meals. Plus normally around this time of the month, they like to do offers or discounts off for those couples mealing out on Valentines Day.
- Go For Drinks - If you both like alcoholic beverages, then why not head to a bar to sit down and have a few drinks with each other. You can just sit and talk whilst still enjoying your drinks. Plus a bar will have a much more relaxed environment than the typical club scene, which will help to make it have more of a date feel.
- Have A Laugh Bowling - Bowling is one of those dates you tend to think of as an amusing activity to do with your partner, but you never really actually go through with it. Why not have some fun and have a laugh together on an afternoon or evening out bowling. It's different than the traditional going out for a dinner and movie date that most couples venture on!
FOR THE SPLURGE COUPLE:
If you're willing to go all out and treat yourselves this valentines day, then here are some more expensive date ideas for Valentines that are just as fun!!!
- Go To The Theatre - A live theatre production can be a fun thing to do if you're both into the threatre, shows or love musicals. It can an entertaining thing to go and watch that will take up a good couple of hours.Or maybe she's just dragged you a long to her favourite musical production haha. Afterwards you can always pop to a restaurant for a dinner date or go have some drinks!!
- Go On An Adventure - If you're an adventuress couple, then why not spend the day going on an adventure! Some ideas include going rock climbing, kayaking, horse riding, head to a theme park, go the zoo or a museum, there's so much you could decide to do. Be unique and have fun!
- Shop Till You Drop - Unsure of what to buy each other for the special day or wanting to treat yourselves? Why not head into town or to a new shopping centre or high street to shop for the day? Girl's in particular love shopping!
- Spend The Night In A Fancy Hotel - A real splurge this one, but why not spend the night away from home in a hotel? You can take full advantage of what the hotel has to offer whether that's a spa, swimming pool, jacuzzi, delicious food and drinks, a comfy bed and a large bath tub all whilst being together and spending the time enjoying yourselves!
- Go To A Show/Gig - If there's an artist in town that you both love, heading to their show or gig can be a great alternative date choice. Or if you're really willing to spend, then travelling across the country to see them might be another option for you. You could also then do some of the other fun date ideas like sighting the local area, staying in a hotel over night and going out for a meal before the show.
What are your plans for valentines day?
You may or may not have noticed, but over a week ago I decided to go on a week long blogging break. There was many reasons for this. One being that I just didn't have the motivation to blog any more. I was feeling bad about my whole blog and it was just really getting me down. I just wasn't enjoying it as much as I use to despite having the passion for it. I decided a break from blogging was the best option for me. Taking a break from your usual day to day activities can be so beneficial to bringing back your motivation, help you gather new ideas and get your head back into the right mind set.
If you have been or ever debate about whether or not to go on a little break from your blog, I have a few tips and things you can to do on your break that will still benefit you and your blog. These tips are mainly to help you make the most of your break, but still continue to be active and drive your readers to your current content without the whole pressure side of publishing new content.
- Build new content and ideas - If you have been stuck for ideas or have found it hard to write the content you want to produce, a great thing to do during your break from blogging is to build new content and ideas. This is a great way to still be productive whilst on your break. By this I mean, don't sit there and think yourself into a frenzy of what you should be posting. Instead, get out and wait for those ideas to start flowing. Head to other blogs, see what they're doing, see if you can find idea's from their content and build your own posts. Go on Pinterest and other media sites, anything that sparks an interest within you, make a note of it for future reference.
Another suggestion would be to just get out! Get out of the house, go for a walk, go see a friend or spend the day doing something fun. You find your mind can wonder and a new idea might just suddenly pop in your head. It's the same as if you were having a conversation with a friend and the topic of your conversation might form a great blog post idea!
- Chat to others - As mentioned, talking to people can spark up ideas. But it can also boost your self-esteem and confidence. Talking to other bloggers really helps me to remind myself as to why I started this hobby, why I took such an interest in this little part of the internet and how much fun it can really be. Most bloggers are so supportive and will always be willing to listen to you. Also speaking to a friend or family member can really help you find your feet again in the blogging world. They can help you see more positive and clearer.
- Schedule to engage - To keep readers coming to your blog and let your readers know that you're still blogging but on a short break, a good idea would be to put a schedule in place. There's two ways you can do this. If you know that you want to still upload post's on your blog, but not write them or do anything for your blog during your break. Pre-writing and scheduling posts can be a good step to take for you. This way you can still be consistent with your uploads and continue to engage your readers. Also making them aware of what's going on with you and that you're having a break is essential! The other method you could take if you prefer to not upload at all is to continue promoting your most recent posts. Scheduling tweets or posts on other social media platforms can be great to bring in new readers whilst your away. This way you can still create traffic whilst you're away!
- Make a plan - I think having some form of plan in place for when you get back to blogging is essential. You can start this by making a note of all the things you enjoy about blogging and the things that you don't enjoy so much. This can be a great way to refresh your mind of why you enjoy this hobby. But also can help you to see clearer about the things you would like to change. From this, you can then set yourself some goals and put an action plan in place. For example, if you're not happy with your layout and design. Then why not research and teach yourself how to customise your own design. There's hundreds of easy tutorials to follow. Or look into some pre-made templates, that you can buy and install quickly yet easily.
Another example is if you're struggling with your content, then remind yourself of your niche. Think back to what subject areas your blog hits and what you enjoy writing. From this, you can build your ideas and from your ideas you can plan your posts in depth. How do you want the introduction to sound? How are you going to set out your information? How are your photo's going to look? What questions might you ask? etc. Having a plan in place is really beneficial for being productive and staying organised too.