Why I’ll Never Be A Fashion Blogger

Hi, With my recent absence from blogging it has given me time to reflect on what and where I want my blog to be. When I first found the world of blogs it was the fashion blogs that I read the most. I still follow all those blogs but my interests have inevitably changed over the years and I’m much more interested in home improvements and food now. My blog has never been as fashion related as I'd originally planned and after almost three years of blogging I’m yet to do an 'Outfit of the Day' post. For fun I've put together a list of reasons why this will probably never change. I did once, a very long time ago, go out to do a fashion post but it didn’t go very well and I've never felt ready to try again.

Why I’ll Never Be A Fashion Blogger

I Don’t Have Anyone to Help Take Photos

This one is kind of self-inflicted because as daft as it might sound my other half is the only person who knows about my blog. As a result my choice of photographer is limited to him and while he did try he just couldn’t get what angles and stuff I wanted in the photos. He did however take my profile pic which is one of very few photos of myself I actually like, I have to give him credit for that.

I’m Not Photogenic

I'm not hating on myself, it's just a fact that I don't have a good angle. It's something that has forever annoyed me and honestly I’ve developed a dislike of cameras as I never look like me in photos. You might have noticed that I never post selfies and there’s like two photos of my face within the posts on my blog.

I Don’t Know What To Do With My Hands

I could come up with an outfit I like but then look like a total idiot in the photos because I just don’t know how to pose. I know this is something you'd learn with practice but it just makes the whole process take longer.

Finding Locations

You don’t need to have a different location for every outfit but lets be honest it keeps things fresh. I could set up a camera against a white wall, but that just wouldn’t be keeping up with all the other amazing fashion bloggers (my aesthetic goal is clearly too high for a newbie). I also rarely leave the house to find those amazing outdoor locations.

The Horror of Taking Photos in Public

You find the perfect location and it’s right on a busy main road or in a very busy park. I’m sure if I looked harder I’d find hidden gems of locations perfect for my shy self. On my one outing I just didn’t feel comfortable and like someone was going to walk past and judge us, but why do I care? social anxiety cares I guess.

I Can’t Afford to Keep Up With the Trends

This is a part truth because with places like Primark and my own style of just picking key pieces, I could probably keep up with the trends but do I really want too? I think fast fashion is something we need to curb as it's really not good for the environment or our bank balance.

My Style is Very Basic

My outfits wouldn't be that interesting. I've got a style uniform of a pair of skinny jeans, a plain t-shirt, a long cardigan and a pair of Dr Martens. While I'd consider my style to be alternative it's been diluted over the years to me just having a very neutral wardrobe.

It’s Just Too Much Effort For Me

While I’d love to do an OOTD post I’m really just not motivated enough to put myself through the effort of all of the above issues to come to edit the photos and hate every one. Maybe this is something I should have a go at but do it on a whim while out somewhere rather than putting so much pressure on the moment.

Do you like to create OOTD posts?

Sam

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Pros and Cons of Blogging

Hi, I’ve been having a bit of a blogging blip and haven’t posted all month. I feel very guilty about this and my blog has never been far from my mind. It’s amazing how fast a couple of weeks can slip by. While I’ve not been very active online I’ve been trying to get my act together behind the scenes so I’m at least a little ahead and I plan to make March a much more active month. I don't have any intention of giving up blogging any time soon but I put together a list of pros and cons about blogging to weigh up if it's worth stressing over.

Pros and Cons of Blogging

Pros

It’s a very creative outlet
Blogging as a hobby is a great way to keep creative, the constant need for ideas and putting together of posts fulfills my creative side.

Get to connect with lovely like minded people
The blogging community is a really lovely one and friendships are waiting to be made.

It’s inspiring and motivational
Reading other blogs is so inspiring and blogging gives me motivation to do more.

Pushes me to make more of my time
Blogging requires content so I try to make the most of my time to actually have something to talk about, since starting blogging I read so much more.

Can be heard by a large audience
If you have something your passionate about you can openly talk about it and educate others.

Looks great on a CV
Blogging shows that you have a wide skill set that in most cases are really relevant to working roles.

Cons

Hard work
Blogging is without a doubt a huge commitment, it takes up a lot of time and requires a lot of effort. 

Living life online can be an invasion
This varies depending on how much you put online but blogging can be an invasion on the boundaries of offline and online life. 

Requires constant attention
Blogging is never ending, but you're entitled to set your own seclude and take holidays. If your not writing a post your planning them or promoting them.

Unpopular opinions
You can't always say what you think because you might get a backlash of negativity but sometimes it's worth the risk. 

Popularity contest, number counting
While people might deny it blogging is a bit of a popularity contest and you can't help but feel bad when someone unfollows.

Overall I think the pros outweigh the cons and that is the reason that while blogging can be hard and frustrating at times it’s not a hobby I would stop any time soon. It's important to do whats right for you and work to your own goals and no one else's.

Have you been feeling conflicted about blogging?
Sam

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Happy New Year!

Hi, Happy New Year! So it's 2017 another year full of possibilities and adventures waiting to happen. I want to say a massive thank you for reading my blog last year and giving me the motivation to continue to blog. I hope this year will be my best yet for blogging and that you'll stick around to enjoy it with me. I don't intent to have any new years resolutions, I do like goals though so for now here's my goals for the month ahead.

Goals for January

• Learn to used and love the bullet journal
• Make a step towards some home renovation
• Do something different
• Lose the Christmas weight I've gained
• Start planning for my Birthday
• Look for a challenge to take part in
• Go for a walk
• Invite my parents round for a meal
• Make sure I have at least one pamper night
• Have some screen free time

So here's to the future and things to come, good luck with all your resolutions if you've made some. With the new year comes the idea of new starts and I couldn't be in a happier place to be starting the year to come.

Did you have a good New Years eve? You got anything you're looking forward to this year?

Sam

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50 Blogmas Post Ideas | #BLOGMAS Day 7

Hi, I'm already struggling with Blogmas content, my main issue is the lack of daylight hours restricting what I can blog about as I need to organise photos. As a result I've had to do some mega brain storming to think of some more interesting festive blog post ideas and decided that I'd share as many Blogmas ideas with you as possible. I hope at least one of these ideas inspires you if you're also stuck this Blogmas.

50 Blogmas Post Ideas

1. A Christmas Tag
2. Festive Product Review
3. Christmas Jumpers Good/Bad
4. Your Christmas Traditions
5. A Christmas Playlist
6. What's On Your Christmas Tree
7. Your Favorite Christmas Movies
8. A Festive Baking Recipe
9. Christmas Day Makeup
10. Festive Home Ware Haul
11. Vegan/Vegetarian Christmas Dinner Recipe
12. Festive Nail Art
13. Document A Christmas Market
14. A DIY Christmas Decoration
15. Gift Guide For Him/Her
16. Christmas Gift Guide For Your Pets
17. Tips On Staying Organised
18. Christmas Shopping Tips
19. Festive Drink Recipe
20. Christmas Wish List
21. Hold A Giveaway
22. Personal Festive Goals
23. Make Your Own Wrapping Paper
24. Share A Christmas Memory
25. Document A Cosy Winter Night-In
26. Who You're Watching This Vlogmas
27. Money Saving Tips
28. Budget Christmas Ideas
29. Party Dresses For The Office Party
30. Secret Santa Gift Ideas
31. Easy Hair Styles For Christmas Day
32. The Perfect Christmas Eve
33. Share Some Small Businesses For Gift Ideas
34. Christmas Reading Recommendations
35. A Wintry Walk
36. Your Advent Calendar
37. Share Your Favourite Things About Christmas

38. Share Some Christmas Wrapping Hacks
39. Favourite Winter Scents
40. Christmas Specials You’re Looking Forward To
41. A Charitable Post
42. Healthy Festive Snacks
43. Festive Cocktails/Mocktails
44. Share Your Favourite Things About The Season
45. Review A Festive Restaurant Menu
46. Your Decoration Wish List
47. Homemade Christmas Cards
48. Your Favourite Toy As A Child 

49. Christmas Day Outfit Of The Day
50. Gratitude list

I actually found thinking of these post ideas quite easy to about 40 where I felt I started to repeating myself. There's more than enough ideas to get me through to the end of Blogmas and I'm now looking forward to it (only 17 more days to go, eek). So wish me luck, I'm going to need a brake after all this.

Do you have a favourite post idea you'd like to see?

Sam

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9 Things To Do For Your Blog When You Don't Feel Like Writing

Hi, We all have those days where we have time to blog but writing a post just doesn't feel like something you want to do or the words just won't form. A blog requires many elements to reach it's full potential, while your posts are what make your blog there's a lot of behind the scenes things you can do to improve your blog.

9 Things To Do For Your Blog When You Don't Feel Like Writing

Brain Storm Ideas
A reason you don't want to blog maybe a lack of ideas or a lack of clarity of how to write a certain post. Brainstorming ideas gives you the chance to step back and take note of things inspiring you at that moment. Alternatively they can help you give extra depth to an idea you already have.

Photography
One of my main issues is not having photos ready to publish a post. By getting creative with props on days when you feel like doing something else you could make yourself some stock images. You could also use you brainstorm to take photos of products you want to review at a later date.

Add Widgets
Widgets are a great way to add some personality to your blog by linking to other social media accounts. Alternatively you could add widgets that make your blog easier to navigate or link to a featured post.

Check For Broken links
Something I need to do a lot more often but a super simple fix once you use a broken link finder. Just google blog broken link checker, enter your blog url and have some fun exploring your old posts.

Add/Update Post Labels
Blog post labels are designed to help people find your post by adding keywords that sum up the content of the post. Go back over your posts and add or group labels, grouping posts means you can add a quick link on your blog to all the same themed posts.

Blog Promotion
One of the biggest things you should do once you've written a killer post is to make sure as many people as possible will see it. You can use sites like Buffer to schedule posts in advance and don't be afraid to link back to old relevant posts too.

Update Old Posts
Something you wrote last year might be just as relevant today so why not go back and update the post to your current standard and show it off.

Link Old Posts
A blog post idea for days when you don't want to write a whole post is to link back to your old favourite post and get some traffic flowing to old posts. You could do a lush review roundup for example.

Improve Your SEO
I still find SEO (search engine optimization) a little intimidating but as a blogger it's worth learning the basics so your posts are search engine friendly. Using keywords in your title and naming images to compliment the post is a good starting point.

I hope that these points are helpful and getting you thinking about any improvements you can make to your blog or help you prepare for future posts. If you're still not feeling like working on your blog don't worry about it and take the time away to be inspired.

What do you do for your blog on none writing days?

Sam

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How To Get Back In To Blogging After A Break

Hi, I wanted to write a post inspired by my lack of blogging recently and share my experience (got to find inspiration where we can right). I stopped blogging for over three months, it's flown and that's what made me want to get back to blogging more than anything. Blogs are after all a very public kind of diary and it's fun to look back at and see what I was interested in this time last year. Blogging is also a very good excuse for funding my addiction to Lush products.

How To Get Back In To Blogging After A Break

Start Slow
While it's taken me this long to get back into blogging I've been brainstorming ideas for a while. Don't feel pressured to come back until you're ready and full of the inspiration you needed. You could always create a stock pile of posts so you're always ahead.

Write For Yourself
Blogging is suppose to be a fun hobby and for most of us that's all it will ever be but that's fine. Blog for yourself first, don't feel like you need to stick to a schedule or pattern unless you want too.

Draft Write Posts
I can't just write a post and hit publish because it would be riddled with mistakes and sentences that make no scenes. Writing without the pressure of the publish button gives you freedom to play around with your writing style and post layout.

Be Social
One thing I missed while not blogging was reading blogs. Just because you don't feel like blogging doesn't mean that you have to be quiet. Take part in blogger twitter chats or link to old posts to continue to get others viewing your blog.

Don't Force It
Come back to your blog when you are ready, if that's never then that's totally fine, do what's right for you.

Re-Brand
One of your issues might be that you and your blog just don't work together anymore. If you feel it's the right move for you there's the option of re-branding and starting a totally new blog.

Photography
Having fun with props or products may inspire future posts or at least give you a back up of stock images. Take your camera with you on a day out to create a day in the life post which requires only a little writing.

Keep Being Inspired
Reading other blogs is a good way to see what's current or inspire you to write your own take on a subject or there's always a tag to do. Use everyday life as inspiration for future posts and make your blog your own.

I hope these points are helpful, I've sat and drafted a few posts which feels great. Taking a step back from blogging was difficult but I found coming back harder. Finding the confidence in myself and what I've got to say gave me the motivation to give it another go.

Have you got any tips for getting back into blogging?

Sam

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A Catch Up | Where Have I Been?

Hi, it’s been a while hasn’t it. I don’t really know why I stopped blogging other than I was struggling to think of interesting content and once I took a step away from this place I found it really hard to come back. I’ve wanted to blog again and felt guilty for disappearing with no explanation. I’ve also enjoyed not blogging and just having some time away. Here I am finally writing a post to reintroduce myself to blogging and I hope I’ll get back into the swing of it and enjoy it as much as I once did.

An update on my day to day life and a big reason I haven’t found the time to blog is I finally bought a house. All the way back in August we got the keys to our new home, it’s the first time me and the boyfriend have lived together, which is strange but we've fallen into a routine and we're happy. The house is in need of some renovation and so far we’ve had the windows changed and it looks totally different. It’s an exciting time and I’m looking forward to the future and my first Christmas tree that I can decorate exactly how I want.

Are you looking forward to Christmas yet?
Sam

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100th Post and a Book Haul

Hi, This is my 100th post which is madness. I can't believe that I've got to the point of writing so many posts in such a short amount of time, it feels great. On the other hand with writing so many posts I feel a little out of ideas which is why the blog has been a little quiet. I've got big plans for December so I'm hoping to make it up to you.

So I wanted to share with you some books I've recently bought with the hope of reading as many as possible to get to my target goal for the year of 35 books, I've got six books to go so I'm not doing too badly. I've got a mixture of books some from Amazon which where on a 3 for £10 offer and some second hand books from the charity shop which cost me 50p each.

The Martian - Andy Weir

I wanted to see the film but knowing it was a book I had to read that first. A story about an astronaut who is believed dead and left behind when a mission to mars is aborted. The story follows Mark Watney on his fight to survive. The book is written in short log entries, I can't wait to see how they read.

 

Panic - Lauren Oliver

This book is dubbed as a kind of Hunger Games story and as such interested me. A story about a set of games all about facing your biggest fears, the blurb gives the impression that there is some sort of prize but it's vague. Written from the perspective of two different characters, a writing style I love as you get to see things from different angels.

 

 Just a Girl Standing in Front of a Boy - Lucy-Anne Holmes

With the holidays coming I wanted something a little more lighthearted to pass a few hours. This book is about a woman who thinks shes got everything worked out and then everything changes. She meets a guy, her boyfriend proposes and her mother leaves her father and moves in with her. It sounds really cheesy but sometimes thats not a bad thing.

The next books are the ones I picked up in the charity shop, I had £2 in change so I had to get four considering how cheap they where. I fear if I'd had more money I would have been tempted to buy more. I grabbed two of these books crazy fast as I knew I wanted to read them, those being 'Us' and 'How to be a woman' having read books by both authors this year, I wanted to see how these compare. The other two where random selections which sounded interesting enough to tempt me into picking them.

 

Us - David Nicholls

'Douglas and Connie: scientist and artist, and for more than twenty years, husband and wife until suddenly, their marriage seems over. But Douglas is going to win back the love of his wife and the respect of Albie, their teenage son, by organising the holiday of a lifetime. He has booked the hotels, bought the train tickets, planned and printed the itinerary for a 'grand tour' of the great art galleries of Europe. What could possibly go wrong?'

How to Be a Woman - Caitlin Moran

'There's never been a better time to be a woman: we have the vote and the pill, and we haven't been burnt as witches since 1727. However, a few nagging questions do remain...'

Behind the Scenes at the Museum - Kate Atkinson

'Ruby Lennox was conceived grudgingly by Bunty and born while her father, George, was in the Dog and Hare in Doncaster telling a woman in an emerald dress and a D-cup that he wasn't married. Bunty had never wanted to marry George, but her she was, stuck in the flat above the pet shop in an ancient street beneath York Minster, with sensible and sardonic Patricia aged five, greedy cross-patch Gillian who refused to be ignored and Ruby...'

How to Love - Katie Cotugno

'This is not a love story. But it's not what you think. This is not a first kiss, or a first date. This is not love at first sight. This is a boy and a girl falling in messy, unpredictable, thrilling love. This is the complicated route to happiness that follows. This is the real. This is life. This is how love is.'

 I hope you've maybe found a new book to add to your to read list and thank you for reading.
Sam

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Why I Started Blogging | 100 Followers

Hi, Something amazing happened the other day, I reached 100 followers on Bloglovin! I know it's not a numbers game but I'm super happy that 100 of you lovely people out there in the world have found my little piece of the internet and deemed it worthy of your time. I hope I can continue to produce content you find both interesting and informative and that you will stick around and help me grow Momentarily Dreaming further.

Why I Started Blogging

If I'm honest I would say I purely started blogging as something to do on my Sundays as my boyfriend is at work and I had some spare time as a result. I was in need of a hobby and love looking at blogs myself so I figured I would give it a go.

Before I started blogging I viewed blogs but was too afraid to post a comment. When I first hit publish on my first post way back in November I was worried about what people would think and didn't feel ready to push myself to create content. I didn't join Bloglovin and start to notice the attention my blog gained until May this year over six months after I published my first post. Since then I have had over 1600 page views and a lot of positive comments on my posts. Not to mention the 100 followers I have gained in just 4 months which is mind blowing, to me anyway.

Blogging is hard work (especially when you work a 40 hour week) but at the end of the day you should only be doing it if you really love it. So far since May when I started to dedicate my time I have loved every minute. I don't know what was in my head space before I started to think like a blogger, but I can feel a creative buzz now. I would consider myself quite shy but blogging is pushing me to open up and not worry about what people will say/think. Having a platform for creative writing and sharing ideas openly is such a nice thing to have.

 A massive thank you for reading!

Sam

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