How to Save Hours of Time with Stock Photos

Do you know what, like, the hardest thing about blogging is (besides SEO, for that matter)? Photos. You know what takes up a lot of time? Getting out your fancy camera and CLEANING just to take a photo people might not even pay too much attention to. So, that's what stock photos are for! There are thousands, probably hundreds of thousands of stock photo sites on the interwebs for you to browse through and find images that fit your needs. But there's more to it than that~

For starters, you might ask what stock photos are. Basically, they're photos taken for the sole use of you using them without getting arrested by the interweb police because they're copyrighted. These are NOT copyrighted and you can totally use them for personal or commercial use!! Isn't that great? Yeah, it kind of is. Bloggers (like meeee!) drool over stock photos and are constantly saving them to our libraries for future use. But, what sites should you use? Now you're asking the real questions. 

There are lots of great sites, and these are NOT (trust me) the ones that you must always use no matter what and don't go looking for any others because these are the ultimate ones. But this IS a personal list of resources for you to bookmark and maybe possibly check out sometime. 

1. Unsplash
 
2. SplitShire

3. Startup Stock Photos

4. Picography

5. Free Refe

7. Gratisography

So, those are just a few select sites, and don't worry about paying for a Premium membership or anything like that because these sites are all completely free to use. 

Now, once you've downloaded your stock photos, you can take them on over to Picmonkey and edit them to create a Pin-friendly image. So, are stock photos your new best friend yet? Do you know of any other awesome stock photo sites? I'd love to hear your feedback, so tell me about those sites in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

xx Savannah

Motivation Monday

Motivation Monday

Workspace of the Week: June 28

Nail Art Saturday

Nail Art Saturday

Friday DIY Roundup #21

I'm sorry I have taken all day to post this! This morning, of all times, Blogger was NOT working for me. I say "of all times" because this weekend, my family is driving into Santa Clara, CA to see some Grateful Dead concerts; some of their last ones. Anyway, I won't be back until late Monday night, so I decided to schedule some posts because I doubt I'll have the time and/or energy to post while I'm gone, though I will have access to a computer. But since Blogger wouldn't load (and this has happened dozens of times before, no, it's not the internet), I got frustrated and decided to check Bloglovin' and play on my phone as I drank my tea; this lasted all morning. But then I went out to get in the pool. And then people came over (unexpectedly) and got in the pool. This caused me to stay in the pool for about 8 hours. But now Blogger's working, so I'm writing this post! Get ready for a crafty weekend~

1. Ladybugs vs Tadpoles Tic Tac Toe by Atta Girl Says 

2. DIY Rock Candy by Happiness is Homemade

3. Garden Art: Colorful Pour Pots by KC Edventures 

4. Tissure Paper Pom Poms and Luminarias by Martha Stewart

5. DIY Truffula Trees by The Real Housewives of Tazewell County 

6. DIY Photo Notepads (as shown in photo) by A Beautiful Mess

7. Vintage Inspired, Ride-On Wooden Toy DIY by A Beautiful Mess

So, I'm gonna go have some fun in California going shopping and going to concerts, so have a great weekend~ thanks for reading!!

xx Savannah

6 Types of Posts Your Blog Needs

Having a blog is all about variety. A blog shouldn't have posts that are all pretty much the same, and the colors are just grey and white, but not even an attractive grey- the blogger should mix it up a bit. A blog's content is extremely important, as it is the whole purpose for the blog, and the content should be able to fall under categories. I've created a list of 6 basic categories, and your blog should have at least these 6 types of posts. I know there are dozens upon dozens of tags and labels and categories, but to keep it simple, I've made a list of only six. It seems to be check list week- I'm sorry, and I know realize that I'M the one that needs to mix it up some. Anyway, just try to check and see if you have these 6 basic posts down.

1. Tutorials- and you should write tutorials on something you know a lot about. If you have a fitness blog, write about how to make your favorite green/healthy/weight loss smoothie. If you have a DIY blog, then this is your niche. If you have a business blog, write about how to boost your SEO. It's soo easy!

2. Roundups! Roundups are great because they can be customizable to whatever topic you choose to write about. Whether you write a roundup of blogging resources or DIYs and crafts, you are providing your readers with awesome links and blogs that you love, and this also acts as free advertising for whatever blogs you include in the roundup. 

3. Reviews are awesome. But there's a fine line between giving a product a review, and straight up complaining about it- we don't like it when bloggers go off on a certain product, do we? But, besides that, reviews are also kind of like free advertising because you could be driving your readers to buy this product- and if it's sponsored by the brand, you're gonna make some money!!! $$$

4. Checklists. These could be your favorite summer beauty creams for 2015, must-see sites for stock photos, or even just your camping checklist and what not to forget when you go camping in the Grand Canyon. 

5. Infographics. I can't tell you how many times infographics will bail you out of writer's block. They're easy to find and fun to read, and you can find them on any subject. For example, Google "restaurant infographics", or "dog infographics". Pinterest is great for this sort of thing. 

6. Videos!! Cat videos, tutorials, songs, British animals talking- anything. Whether it's relevant to your blog or not, post them! Everyone loves watching videos, and you can easily do this straight from YouTube; in the description, click Share and click your blog host, whether it be Blogger or Wordpress, etc. 

So, are you posting these 6 simple types of posts, and what types could I be missing? Tell me in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

xx Savannah
 

4 Qualities Your Best Blog Post Should Have

I'm going to be writing a whole lot of posts about blogging tips in the next week or so, because when using a blog post generator, I almost ALWAYS end up using the keyword "bloggging". FYI, my all-time favorite blog post generator is this one, BLOG ABOUT by Impact. You simply enter your keyword(s), and if you like the post, click the little heart and it goes onto your list, which can be emailed to you. I use it really often when I can't come up with blog posts and don't have time for a full-on brainstorming session. Honestly, it's super helpful and you should try it out. But, once you HAVE written that blog post and you're ready to click Publish, stop-wait a minute. I know I JUST wrote a checklist yesterday, but get ready for another one.

1. Have you included all of the labels, as in, every single key word mentioned in the text? Making labels (or tags, whichever host you have) is important for your readers to find more posts just like the one you just wrote. This is great for boosting your SEO, so make sure you're on it!

2. Does it include a Pin-worthy image? I use Picmonkey to make most of the images on this blog, and you should, too. The optimum Pinning size for your photos should be 735 x 1102 pixels. To do this on Picmonkey, under "Design", select "Custom", and enter those numbers to ensure a good image size that will make EVERYONE want to Pin your post.

3. At the end of your post, ask a question for your readers to answer in the comments! I get SO excited when a reader comments, and trust me, you will, too. Don't you get a teensy bit excited? Yeah you do. Anyway, giving your readers a reason to comment is awesome- just don't forget to turn off Captcha (it's uber annoying). 

4. Lastly, have a good intro, and something at the end, too. Say hello, get personal, talk about your life. There's nothing I like more in a blog than a little bit of the blogger's personal life squished in. For example, my sister's birthday was on Monday, and we went to see Disney Pixar's Inside Out (we really did). 

So, does your BEST blog post include these 4 simple qualities? If you're a total pro, I bet it does. Tell me in the comments below what you think the ultimate blog post quality should be. Thanks for reading!

xx Savannah

3 Simple Things Bloggers Can Do to Improve Their Blog

Summer is here as of Sunday, and come summer, bloggers get kind of lazy when it comes to posting and growing their blog. If this is you, the lazy blogger that could be writing that post that you were planning on publishing last week, but instead have gone swimming every day, then read this list. It's not much of a list, only 3 things, but it can vastly improve your blog- and they are very easy, simple things! When you look at this summer, wouldn't you rather be reading blogs than writing them? Exactly. Someone has to write those blogs, and that someone could very well be YOU. People out there want to read your blog, so write it, and improve it, and help it to grow. So get out your notepad and turn this into a checklist! If you can, get it done by the end of the week. 
 
1. Make sure all of your links open into new tabs. I hate when I'm on a blog and I click on a link, but it closes the blog page and redirects me to the link I clicked on. This is really bad because it directs people away from your blog- make sure the links open into new tabs!

2. Set up a Facebook page for your blog. This is great because having a page can seriously up your traffic! People will see that the page is recommended for them (maybe because a friend likes that page) and BOOM- a new reader, and so on!

3. Find an authentic blogging community, or at least a blogging bestie, someone who you can share your work with and do projects with and they call fall back on you and you can fall back on them when you need some tips. Sadly, I have yet to find my blogging bestie.. 

Like I said, try to get at least 2 of those done by the end of the week; the blogging community one may take a while I am now realizing. Thanks for reading!

xx Savannah

Motivation Monday

10 of My Favorite Things to Watch on Netflix

Netflix is the key to a lazy day- having trouble getting out of bed? Watch something. Rainy day? Watch something. Movie night? Watch anything. Anyway, I'm not sure if you got my point, but I watch Netflix a lot. I can't help it, they have everything. But if you already watched everything on your list, like, 100 times, then look at my list- I or at least a few things from my list. Get some inspiration, watch something new, plan a movie night. Make some popcorn, buy candy, gather all the blankets and pillows you can find. This is something my family does a lot, because we have a projector and a movie screen, and you can't have a home theater without watching a movie every other night. My current favorites (that aren't/are on Netflix) to watch on the big screen are Better Off Dead and The Hunger Games and Ferris Bueller's Day Off. 

1. Legally Blonde

2. Bob's Burgers

3. Switched at Birth

4. Ghost Adventures

5. Frasier

6. Friends

7. The Emperor's New Groove
 
8. Ferris Bueller's Day Off

9. Kitchen Nightmares

10. Arrested Development

So, what are you gonna watch tonight, and are you planning your next movie night yet? Get some ideas from Pinterest here. Thanks for reading!

Motivation Monday

Motivation Monday

Top 10 Pinterest Recipes of the Week

Happy Father's Day, readers! No matter how you are celebrating tonight (or today), you should make something for your dad, and that something has a 70% chance of being food. In fact, I'm making bacon & pancakes for my dad as I speak. Unless you're going out to eat tonight/today, then cooking him something is a GREAT way to show him you love him! Make him brownies, ribs, a gallon of frosting, whatever his favorite food is. And I've got 10 recipes for inspiration in case you have absolutely no idea what to do. Or, maybe a simple cup of coffee will do the trick. Nonetheless, make some food, you'll get hungry eventually and McDonald's has a restraining order against you!

1. Chicken, Leek and Mushroom Casserole by Fat Mum Slim

2. Creamy Lemon Chicken Piccatta by The Recipe Critic 

3. Easy Weeknight Chicken Tacos by How Sweet Eats 

4. Baked Eggs with Sauteed Spinach, Cherry Tomatoes, Goat Cheese and Proscuitto (as shown in photo) by Shoot to Cook

5.  Sour Cream Cheddar & Chives Drop Biscuits by She Wears Many Hats

6. Simple Roasted Garlic Hummus by Cooking Classy

7. One Pot Chinese Chicken with Rice by Fat Mum Slim 

8. Chicken Pot Pie Pockets by Chef in Training 

9. Yummy Baked Egg Boats by Spoon Fork Bacon

10. Mozzarella Cheese Sticks by Noshing with the No Lands 

I really want some of those mozzarella cheese sticks, and those chicken pot pie pockets seem to be the chicken pot pie version of finger food- it's the feast of the future. What was your favorite thing on this list? Tell me in the comments below. Happy Father's Day, and thanks for reading!

xx Savannah

Workspace of the Week: June 21

Happy Father's Day 2015!

Nail Art Saturday: DIY Glitter Nail Polish

Nail Art Saturday: DIY Galaxy Nails

10 Quick Tips About Nail Art

It's Nail Art Saturday again, but this time, in addition to posting pictures to inspire your inner manicurist, I've got a list of 10 tips that will both help you and give you ideas that you wonder why you didn't think of them first. Last week, I used Scotch tape to make geometric accent nails with blue & white, and then painted the rest aquamarine- they came out fabulous and salon-perfect! I just love having dazzling nails because it just kind of makes my day. But, now they're chipping a little bit, and I need to start over, but I don't have much time, so maybe writing this post will motivate me a little bit! (And maybe it will motivate you, too)

1. Make awesome polka-dots with the tip of a bobby pin, as apposed to one of those nail art tools, because bobby pins are cheaper and you probably already have them in your hair (right now). 

2. Add some corn starch to a bottle of clear nail polish for a DIY matte top coat. Instructions here.

3. Use the plastic baggy method (pictured to the right) and make some cute nail decals! This would be great for making letters and intricate designs.

4. Use a Band-Aid to create easy polka dots without the extra concentration needed with a bobby pin.

5. You can also use a mechanical pencil to make really tiny dots. 

6. Paint over lace or mesh to create an easy design, recommended with white nail polish. 

7. Use a white base coat to actually make neon nail polish really POP. 

8. Write on your nails with a Sharpie; I do this all the time with my metallic Sharpies, it works great and lasts a really long time!

9. Use an old fan bush to create a striped effect.

10. Finally, stuff a sponge in a jar and soak it in nail polish remover or acetone to make a super easy DIY nail polish remover. 

So, what do you think? Inspiring enough for your next manicure session, or are you headed for the salon? Thanks for reading!

xx Savannah

12 Things To Do After You've Written A New Blog Post

I looove this diagram, it's extremely helpful and I think I'll be using it a lot in the future. Thanks, Pinterest!!

Friday DIY Roundup #20

It's that time of the week again, the time when we get totally crafty. Also, I just wanted to point out one of my new favorite Youtubers (she's not a new Youtuber, just a new addition to my favorites list)- and that's IIsuperwomanII. She's funny, she's awesome, and I found out about her because she was on Good Mythical Morning. You have GOT to watch her "What I Do On Airplanes" video, it's really funny. Anyway, I've got 7 fun, crafty projects for you to do this weekend, maybe with your dad, considering it's Father's Day and he just might happen to LOVE DIYs. Or you could make him something off of this list- I already did a list of Father's Day DIYs, you can read it here. Make something for your mum, too, while you're at it (just don't give it to her on Father's Day!). 

1. Fruit Welcome Mats by The House That Lars Built 

2. DIY Paper Diamonds by Spoon Flower

3. DIY Painted Pineapple Ukelele (as shown in photo) by Lovely Indeed 

4. 15 Minute Hooded Towel by True Aim

5. Crayon + Wax Candles by Warm Hot Chocolate 

6. How to Make a Bed Skirt from a Flat Sheet by Driven by Decor 

7. Earphone Holder from a Mint Container by Make It and Love It 

The painted ukelele is so cute, I would hang it up just as wall art. I thought the bed skirt might be a helpful addition because bed skirts are awesome and everyone needs one :) Which one of these were your favorite? Tell me in the comments below; thanks for reading!

xx Savannah

8 Ways to Use Light in Your Photography

Photography and simply taking pictures is growing to be one of my favorite things to do. Day after day, I find myself uploading a photo according to the Fat Mum Slim Photo a Day prompt on Facebook, and then getting excited for the next day to come so that I can take another picture or two. And one of the funnest things to play with in photography is- you guessed it, probably because of the title- LIGHT! It's one of the best parts of photography, and I bet there are way more than 8 ways to use it in your photos, but I'm gonna list the 8 ways that I am most familiar with. After this, you'll probably be out and about trying to capture all forms of light and then filling up your friend's Facebook pages with your awesome photos; oh, they'll be so jelly of your mad skills. 

1. Backlighting: This is just as it sounds, lighting up your photo from the back. 

2. Sunflare: Everyone loves it, and it's easy to do. It just creates such a stunning effect, and you usually see it in professional photo albums. 

3. Sunsets: the mix of all your favorite colors- how can this photo go wrong?

4. Sunrises: just like sunsets, but it's even more worth it to get up early (which I do anyway). 

5. Black and white filters: these make the photo just a little bit more dramatic, especially with sunsets, and it just makes it look- what's the word?- VINTAGE AND FABULOUS.

6. Artificial light: basically anything that emits light that is not the sun, such as lamps and such. I have yet to experiment with this, but it looks interesting. 

7. Bokeh: not very many people know what this is, but it's the shape of the lights in your photos. Sooo fun to play around with and customize!

8. Light painting: use a lighter or a sparkler (this is a fun project for the 4th of July!) to write words or draw shapes in the air with light. 

So, which one is your favorite? Are you going to try these out this weekend? If you don't know how to use any of these in your photos, there are tons of tutorials all over the internet and I recommend you Google one. Have fun taking pictures, and thanks for reading!

xx Savannah

9 Last-Minute DIY Father's Day Gift Ideas

Let's face it, Father's day is in 4 days, what do you have for your dad? Do you celebrate that? I wonder which countries do and don't celebrate it. Anyway, most readers here (maybe only a few, I have no idea) love to DIY and be creative. To you, store-bought gifts aren't cool enough and you'd rather give him something from your heart, your big, fluffy, loving heart. It's not as easy as mother's day; he doesn't want flowers. So what does he want? Well, I'm taking my dad on a hike (he loves that, and so do I!) and we're going out to dinner at my his dad's house. I can't wait to give him the day he's (probably) been waiting for all year. If you want to bring out your inner crafty side this year and make him something, but have no inspiration, here's a few ideas.

1. M&Ms Bowtie Father's Day Card by Crafty Morning

2. Monster Trail Mix Gift Idea for Dads by Lil' Luna 

3. DIY: Homemade Shaving Cream by The Chic Site

4. Days Out with Dad in a Jar by Boho Loco

5. Last Minute Father's Day Gift: Nuts About Dad! by Simply Frugal

6. Bet "Pop" Ever Printable Coke Sleeve by Oopsey Daisy Blog 

7. Homemade Green Hot Sauce by Good Housekeeping

8. Salted Beer Caramels by Good Housekeeping 

9. Spicy Peppercorn Rub by Good Housekeeping 

Do you celebrate Father's Day? What are you getting him this year? I can't stand not knowing, so tell me in the comments. Thanks for reading, and have a great Father's Day, and good luck crafting!

xx Savannah

THE REDWOODS

So we went to the Redwoods yesterday with my aunt Carey; you can see her in one of the first photos bending down to look at something. I feel like the photos didn't capture all of the magic that we really felt while walking around through a forest of all of the tallest trees in the world; I found dozens of small hiding places where trolls might hide, and in one photo, you can see a troll wearing a purple sweatshirt. As you can probably see, some photos are at the beach, where we promptly went afterwards. There's a little bridge crossing a creek, and Lily and I sat on a bench next to a little watering hole. We collected rocks, and some sand in our shoes (I forgot flip flops!), and then we went out to dinner at O'Hollerans. I highly recommend it, it is the best restaurant in all of Brookings and the surrounding area. If you ever do go, get the calamari as an appetizer, and their burgers are to die for. The garden vegetable soup is amazing, and they make their own salad dressing, of which my aunt took home a cup of. If you ever do get the chance, visit the Redwoods, and Brookings, too. Thanks for reading. 

xx Savannah

Motivation Monday

Motivation Monday

Workspace of the Week: June 14

Nail Art Saturday

Nail Art Saturday

Friday DIY Roundup #19

It's the first Friday that I'm not stressed and busied with school, so that means that I have totally put off writing this post all day. I've been out by the pool for just hours, and drinking tea, and night swimming (it's freezing). Though summer coming has caused me to lose 90% of my motivation, I still love blogging and am sorry if I miss a post here and there. If you are out of school, or are still in school, or whatever, then I've got a nice load of arts and crafts to fill your week- hopefully you will still have time to sit out in the sun drinking sweet tea and watching the sun set and the bats come out. 

1. How to Watercolor Paint on Fabric by Ella Claire 

2. DIY Mosquito Repelling Bracelet (perfect for the summertime!) by One Good Thing 

3. Mini Mason Jar Aquariums by A Little Clairification 

4. No-Sew Teepee Tent (as shown in photo) by Julie Blanner

5. How to Make T-Shirt Headbands by eHow

6. How to Build a Lego Candy Dispenser by Frugal Fun for Boys 

7. Easy EOS Peppermint Refill by Mom 4 Real

Just to clarify, #6 does not dispense Lego candy... It is M&Ms, not plastic. Which one would you most likely try this weekend? Tell me in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

xx Savannah

Top 10 Pinterest Recipes of the Week

I am just now realizing that I missed this post on Sunday, probably because I was too terribly busy to even write anything. But you guys shouldn't just miss out on a whole post full of recipes, so even though I'm still going to (try) to write one this Sunday, I'm writing this great one right now. Are you hungry yet? I want to try to include more sweets in these posts, and a few beverages, too- diversity is key, when it comes to recipes, I'm assuming (correct me if I'm wrong, haha!). Today is the last day of school, so of course when I woke up this morning, I had no idea what to write about. I looked over my brainstorm lists, but nothing really sounded like something I want to write about right now (based on how I feel, my mood, etc.). Do you ever feel like that, like you just don't want to write about that right this second, but maybe later? Hmm. Maybe not. 

1. Blueberry Pancake Bites by Cincy Shopper 

2. Homemade Mac-and-Cheese Bites by Chef in Training 

3. Baked Rosemary Parmesan Chickpeas by A Beautiful Mess 

4. Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites by Two Peas and Their Pod 

5. Nut Milk Creamsicles with Boba by A Beautiful Mess 

6. Funfetti Sugar Cookie Cake (as shown in photo) by Sally's Baking Addiction 

7. Blue Rasberry Lemonade Jello Slush by Bitz-n-Giggles 

8. Grilled Mac-n-Cheese Sandwich by Spend with Pennies 

9. Mozzarella-Stuffed Soft Pretzels by The Food Charlatan 

10. Homemade Pepper Jack Crackers by A Beautiful Mess 

Which recipe was your favorite, and which one sounds the best? My favorite would be the pepper jack crackers, because I simple ADORE pepper jack cheese and pepper jack Cheez-Its.
I hope you want more of these posts, because I'm going to write another (hopefully) this Sunday. Thanks for reading!

xx Savannah  

10 Summer DIYs

Summer is just around the corner, and even though it officially starts June 21, that is not at all how I look at it. For my sister and I, summer starts the second school gets out and we're running for the pool. Today is my last day of actual class, and tomorrow is the field day that I've been waiting for all year long. Some people leave early to go places- nope, field day, all the way, for me. I wouldn't miss it for the world! Dutch Bros, a dunk tank, water balloons, BBQ, and so many great people to experience it with. I'm really looking forward to my sister coming up to my school next year, even though the teachers are trying to clarify that we will never, EVER come into contact with them. Oh well, here are just a few fun-filled summer DIYs to make you happy :)

1. Squirt Gun Painting by Fireflies and Mud Pies
 
2. DIY Air Fort by Mom Trusted 

3. Washi Tape Summer Boredom Buster Jars by While He Was Napping

4. Make a Giant Water Blob by Clumsy Crafter

5. Temporary Tattoos with Watercolor Crayons by DIY Center

6. DIY Lemonade Lip Balm by Pretty Handy Girl  

7. Super-Simple Tree House by Apartment Therapy 

8. Make Giant Scrabble by Sunset 

9. Personal Mini Fire Pit by The Art of Doing Things

10. DIY A-Frame Tent (as shown in photo) by CAKES

That tent looks awesome, and I really really want that tree house. I'm not sure about the water blob, though... Which DIY was your favorite? Tell me in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

xx Savannah

I Just Simply Love This

What Journaling Will Be Like in 100 Years

Journaling is a very old tradition that has been used ever since we (as humans) learned to read and write. However, keeping a journal or other type of notebook has begun to die out, as of the age of the iPad and iPhone. Kids don't want to write in some dumb old notebook; they want to play Temple Run on their iPad. So I started wondering- what will happen to journaling in 100 years, if it doesn't go extinct first? A lot could happen in 100 years; we might have a world war, I don't know, maybe the apocalypse will finally come upon us. And, because I love lists, I narrowed it down to 3 things. Remember, these are predictions, wondering, and ideas- tell me what predictions YOU have for the future of writing in a notebook. 

1. Records such as journals will be 90% digital. People will type it out on their phones, telling Siri about their day, and there are already dozens of apps for that (trust me, I looked!). Paper and pen will be something solely from the past, besides the few select people who still prefer it. They will go home to their Mac books and Windows 57 laptops (instead of a screen, it's a touchscreen hologram) and go to either Journalate or Penzu, then write about their day and how they brought their kids to the Dragon Petting Zoo that day. 

2. People likely won't write about what we write about today; they might not write about their day, or they might not write stories, or keep track of their daily and monthly events using a bullet journal. I don't know what they will write about, but their style will probably change, and maybe for the best. You never know what our future writers will be like. 

3. Journaling might be something very encouraged, such as to improve your mental health, by someone like Oprah or another motivational, health-savvy person; you will hear of scientific results showing that writing in your journal every day for 18 months will boost your IQ points. There will be superstition, no doubt- what do you think will happen?

I just really have no idea what journaling will be like in 100 years; but maybe you do. If you do know, tell us in the comments below, I'm sure others would love to know, too. Thanks for reading!

xx Savannah

Pros and Cons of Blogging- Part 2

The blogging community is definitely growing a little bit bigger every single day- but the dad part is that most people abandon and stop writing their blogs after about 6 months, or usually even sooner. Yes, there are lots of cons to blogging, just like the fact that it is time consuming and you might forget about it, but those cons are always accompanied by the pros. I've made countless lists of pros and cons, including the pros and cons of blogging, but those were in my own books- so I'll write a post about it to share with you everything you should know, in case you were thinking of starting a blog. And if you are, please don't abandon it after a few weeks, or even months; blogs do not like to be treated in that sense. 

PROS
 
-It's super easy to start- just choose a platform, such as Blogger, Wordpress, or Tumblr. Once that's done, writing a post is almost as simple as writing an email.
-Blogging creates a sense of a community, and communities love to give feedback, and feedback generates new ideas. 
-A blog gives people reason to visit your site and develop a following, and because it's updated frequently, people just keep on coming back. 
-A blog is a live archive of inspiration and resources- think of it as a place on the interwebs that has every little tidbit that you have ever loved. 

 CONS 

-Technical difficulties can take extra time. If your site is down, you could lose followers, and probably money, too. Not to mention they will keep you from posting sometimes- once in a while, Blogger will just stop working, and I will not be able to post anything (sorry!). 
-It's time consuming- I have spent hundreds upon hundreds of hours researching and writing a blog post, when I could have been knitting, or making myself a cup of tea. 
-A good blog requires regular updates. Yes, write everyday. No, put the cat down and close Facebook. You heard me!
-If a blog is a reflection of your business, do it professionally. Check for spelling and grammar errors, and be sure to check if your photos are high quality and fit the page. 

What are your favorite and least favorite parts of blogging? Tell me in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

xx Savannah

Motivational Monday

Motivational Monday

Workspace of the Week: June 7

Nail Art Saturday

Nail Art Saturday

This is one of my favorite nail art techniques, I do this all the time.

 

Friday DIY Roundup #18

It's that time of the week again, the time to craft our hearts out. It's the last Friday of the year for those of us still in school in CJ or the surrounding areas. I cannot wait for the last day, and I just have to dsay that this little part of the school year taking place in June is my very favorite part of the school year, no matter what. Completing the very last assignments, planning the last day and the ice cream social, waiting for the best day ever- the last day of school. That's what I've been doing, at least. And if you're already out or are planning to get out, or have already graduated, or even if you have no idea what I'm talking about, then here are some DIYs to fill your Friday night and upcoming weekend with. Craft on!

1. Hungry Hungry Caterpillar Crochet by The Whoot 

2. DIY Watercolor Party Hats by Style Me Pretty  

3. Desk Makeover with Chalk Paint (as shown in photo) by My Sister's Suitcase

4. Vintage Teapot Sewing Box by Sadie's Season Goods 

5. Wire Word Rings by Small Good Things 

6. DIY Upcycled Map Coasters by POP Sugar

7. Color Blocked Clay Coasters by A Beautiful Mess

I have always wondered how to make words out of wire and then magically transform them into jewelry... Huh. You learn something new every day. What was your favorite DIY on this list, and which one will you try this weekend? Tell me in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

xx Savannah