Isn’t it nice that there are people who actually exist, that get how crappy the world can be and then work actively to go about making life better?
They may be about as rare as unicorns, but they do exist.
Mary is one of those people.
Who is Mary? She is one of the fabulous women I met at Monarch Workshop. If you check out her blog, you will have an idea of just how AWESOME she it. Well, she sent out some snail mail and it absolutely made my day! Even though it wasn’t completely unexpected (she had to get the addresses somehow), it didn’t make getting mail that wasn’t a bill any less special.
Of course I had to share.
A sweet note, stickers, temporary tattoos, and TONS of confetti!
When your boss is doing something as awesome as mine is, it only makes sense to want to be a part of it. So, when Ponn Sabra shared that Blogger Babes was holding a blog tour and I’d have the chance for her to guest post on Twenty Something Plus, I wanted in…
This post is a part of a month-long Blogger Babes blog tour which began here.To read this post in-context, we recommend starting at the beginning–then hop along with us for the full journey.
While the of blogging topic is rarely touched upon on this blog, I’d like to share a little story with you, how I think it’s relevant today:
I met Bethany at one of the Blogger Babes CT meetups 2 months ago. I immediately noticed an ambitious beauty and lifestyle blogger with a ton of potential. It was because of this potential and her follow-up (great networking skills are critical in the field of blogging), that I asked her if she wanted to work on a little Blogger Babes (BB) project.
That little project eventually turned into a position working for both brands: Blogger Babes and The Ambitionista (my co-founder, Heidi’s fashion blog). My point here is: if you have a dream of catapulting your hobby blogging to the next level, then follow Bethany’s lead
(1) show up and network with like-minded bloggers,
(2) practice good follow-up skills,
(3) offer to intern, and show your skills and personality off: be trainable, personable, determined and professional, and
(4) grow and get paid while you’re learning.
I know the lessons Bethany is gaining is unlike her startup blogging peers, because we’re teaching her how to achieve multiple streams of revenue while actively building publicity and awareness to the core brand: our blogs.
No matter what Heidi and I do, our blogs are our brands, and we must constantly write posts as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Beauty Blogs are Photo Rich – Don’t Let it Bog Down Your Blogging Process
Look for photos last (or first!)
Looking for photos can become very time consuming as you search for the perfect photo to go with your blog post. Set aside the time to look for images after you’ve written your first draft.
This strategy can be reversed – find inspiring photos from some of the free stock image sites and let them inspire your blog posts!
Use a screenshots effectively.
If your post sharing that helpful information comes up short and is only 250 words long, bulk up its interest value by adding a teaser screenshot or infographic, highlighting some aspect of the resource that makes your reader want to read more.
Want to take your blog to the next level?
The above tips are an excerpt from our debut “21 Fast and Simple Tips to Write Blog Posts Faster” Guide, one of seven documents in our comprehensive Blogger Monthly Tutorials launching on May 1st. Each tutorial eKit comes with a tutorial, 21 tips sheet, worksheets, calendar, all our recommended tools, and much more!
For the price of your last unfinished premium coffee or tea, you can should invest in yourself and your blog. You know work-related educational materials are a tax write-off, right!? Yeah…taxes are still on my mind… :-/
Click here to sign up for the Limited Time Only Early Bird special release of $5 per month!
Ponn Sabra is a best-selling author and homeschool mom of three tween and teen daughters, also bestselling authors and probloggers. The Managing Partner of Blogger Babes, Ponn is a lover of good photography–but not the one you’ll find in front of the camera nor behind it. So, rather than spend time on gazing at gorgeous blog photos, she delegates this task for quicker results. What can you delegate that’s time-consuming because you either love or despise the act?
Somebody totally forgot their one year blogiversary.
OK, it was me. But in my defense, I may have completely lost track of time because this wasn’t my first attempt to start Twenty Something Plus. The first one was very basic and I didn’t really do anything with it.
Also, I’ve been working on a side thing or two. I’m really excited about my future and the potential of what was initially something I began just to entertain myself.
All excuses aside, I’m making up for missing out on what could have been a giant celebration, by doing a belated blogiversary giveaway!
All products included are by brands that I use. If you don’t believe me, feel free to stalk my Instagram.
What was originally a rather basic prize bundle, got a MAJOR upgrade thanks to Alyssa of bba bracelets.
It’s going to be SO hard giving all this stuff away. Especially this gorgeous beaded bracelet stack! I have my bba beaded tassel bracelet, which I LOVE, but these remind me of the ocean, so naturally, I’m obsessed.
SO pretty! You know you want to enter…
Begins Wednesday, April 15, 2015 12:00AM EST and runs until Wednesday, April 22, 2015 12:00AM EST. Open to U.S. and Canada only. No purchase required. Winner will be selected at random and must respond within 48 after being contacted. This giveaway isn’t endorsed or associated by anyone but me. Good luck!
A few times, I’ve mentioned Monarch Workshop, but I haven’t really talked about the full experience. After attending for the second time, some sharing needs to happen.
In the fall, Monarch Workshop was held in the B:Hive, this time we convened there in the AM for coffee, but then moved to The Bananaland.
There was food provided by Whisk + Brush throughout the day.
We ‘grammed. A lot. I even got to take over the Stiletto Shoe Lounge Instagram Account!
And this is just in a nutshell.
Monarch Workshop is by far the most (if not the only) holistic workshop EVER. We talked about everything from nutrition to networking and then some. And even better? I can honestly say I’ve made some really great friends.
If you’re thinking about attending, I encourage you to treat yourself. And if you’re not thinking about attending, I think you should at least think about it…
I have lips that are on the more full side and if I don’t exfoliate them with a lip scrub, gross things happen.
Even though it is now March, it is still very much so winter. I know this because I’ve needed to pick away the blatant dead skin off my lips more times than I care to share…
Lip treatments, balms, and glosses are great, but if you are not exfoliating, then peeling is going to happen.
My current favorite lip scrub is one I found on Pinterest from Her Campus. It’s really easy and you only need three ingredients that you can probably find in your kitchen.
Just a tablespoon of sugar, the same amount of honey, and a teaspoon of olive oil. Mix and store. My mom happened to have some salad dressing cups and they were the perfect size!
There’s quite a few different lip scrub concoctions that I’ve come across, but I haven’t tried too many. Do you have one that you swear by?
Over-tweezing was one of my biggest beauty weaknesses. After coming to the realization that if I wanted thicker brows it meant I’d have to put the tweezers down, I stopped plucking. I have since learned restraint and only clean up very obvious stray hairs.
Would you believe me if I told you that in both photos my brows had been groomed? I am wearing eyebrow gel and brushed them to make sure they were their fullest. And get this, they were also both taken with the front camera on my iPhone!
These changes may not have been the most earth shattering, but they are proof that the things we want to achieve often take effort and happen over time.
I’m not freaking out, because I’ve got my gifts for the manfriend wrapped and ready to go!
What did I get him?
While my boudoir mini sesh was totally for me, I figured why not let the manfriend benefit a little from it as well.
At the suggestion of Victoria Gloria, I used Artifact Uprising to print a custom photo calendar using 12 of my favorite shots from the shoot.
I had also recently attended a candle making workshop with Northeast Nutmeg, where I got to make three Valentine’s Day-themed scented candles. I gave one candle to my mom and kept one for myself, but set the third aside to gift with the calendar. And since I felt like crafting I made a no-sew heart garland, just because…
I know, he’s spoiled.
Andrew claims that he’s already gotten me something, so naturally, I’m dying to know what my Valentine’s Day gifts from him are…
To be honest, I would be extremely happy just getting to go and see 50 Shades of Gray.
When I saw the January Birchbox Plus selection, I wanted them all. I had a little extra cash at the time, so I splurged. Hey, treat yo’self, right?
This is not a luxury I will be able to indulge in often but it was SO worth it! Had it not been for this option, and reduced pricing, there is probably next to no way that I’d have been lucky enough to get my hands on some of these coveted blogger favorites.
And as an extra little added bonus they threw in a Tosi Almond Super Bites Mini and some Kusmi BB Detox Tea.I got all of this for under $60. Pretty sweet deal, if you ask me, and well worth the wait!
If you don’t have Birchbox and want it, sign up here.
Not convinced?
Check out some of my other Birchbox posts.
Also, make sure to stay tuned for my February Birchbox unboxing. I’m thinking about giving video another go…
Thoughts?
