Post Comment Love & Blogger Showcase 25-28 August 2017

Hello there and welcome to this week's Post Comment Love. If you were here last week, it was great to see you and if you're new here this week you're also very welcome. Morgan and I just know you'll find some great posts linked up this week, and maybe even some new-to-you blogs too. Please do stop by some of the other posts linked up so everyone benefits from our fabulous linky community love.

This week has been one of those weeks where I'm sure I've done loads but if you were to ask me what I'm not sure I could tell you. There's been gardening, allotmenteering, and a bit of sting (ouch!), lots of lovely food, some blog post and friends along the way. It's been busy at work, but there's always something to do. 

I have noticed it's getting darker earlier though this week and that's not so welcome. In the mornings too our living room is darker and with no natural light of its own, it's not surprising. Let's hope that's a passing blip and the sun hangs around for a bit longer.

My photo this week is one from the archives, and my visit to the London Design Festival last September. It was held at the Truman Brewery in Shoreditch - and the building was as fascinating as some of the exhibits. This one caught my eye then, and again as I scrolled through my photos this week. 

Bloggers Showcase: Bryony from Rebel Momma

REBEL MOMMA

1. Who are you? 

I'm Bryony aka RebelMomma; I'm mum to a 16 month old Frankie-Monster. Trying to navigate my way through this very new life and reconcile the old me with the new me.  

2. How did you discover blogs/blogging?

I started reading blogs and watching blogs when I was pregnant as I found them a lot more relatable than "official" information. 

3. Why did you start blogging?

I started blogging after being diagnosed with postnatal depression when my son was about 4 months old. It was and still is my therapy. 

4. What do you find most challenging?

I find writing consistently the most challenging, I either seem to write non stop for a week or I hit a wall for a month. 

5. What is your favourite topic to write about?

I've tried to keep the blog quite personal but I love writing anyway so just the writing itself is my favourite. 

6. Are you blogging for fun or do you have goals?

Not even for fun, it's a need in me to write and it helps keep my PND at bay by getting my thoughts out of my head. 

7. What is your favourite thing about blogging?

I've had friends get in touch to thank me for saying things that they had struggled to verbalise. 

8. Have you ever attended a blogging conference?

I haven't ever been to a blogging conference. 

9. What are your three best posts?

1. Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes. 

2. Baby daddy. 

3. Knowing me, knowing you (A-ha).

10. Describe yourself in three words.

Contradictory; honest; loyal.

11. Are you a tea and biscuits or coffee and cake person?

Do I actually have to choose? Tea and biscuits. 

12. What's your idea of a perfect night out?

I can't remember what a night out is like! But it would be me, my boyfriend, Jagerbombs and dancing. Lots and lots of dancing. 

13. Your perfect night in?

Pizza, wine, Guardians of the Galaxy. 

14. What would your best friend/OH/mum say is your best quality? 

Probably my resilience. I've had a tough year. 

An InLinkz Link-up

Post Comment Love 18 - 20 August 2017

Hello there and welcome to another Friday and another #PoCoLo - I'm sure the Friday's roll round ever quickly right now, and I'm not sure where the weeks go, or what I do - hopefully I'm not the only one?  If you were here last week it was great to see you, thanks for joining in. If you're new here this week then it's great to see you too and Morgan and I know you'll find some great posts to read.

I've had a bit of a bike week, and not in the way I'd expect. I took it in for a service and was due to collect it on Saturday so of we walked to Halfords. MOH collected his new bike, we bumped into some friends in the queue - like you do - but my bike wasn't ready, but they promised me it would be ready the next day. So MOH cycled back home and I walked - he offered to walk with me, but I knew he was keen to try his new insurance payout bike out.

Sure enough Sunday my bike was ready, but I was having a day of domesticity and so opted to collect it Monday evening instead. You can read about my day of (almost) domestic goddess-ing as that's the post I've linked up this week. Just like when you take your car in for a service and they move your seat position, when you take your bike in they faff about with the saddle height. And let me tell you that's an even bigger pain to get right again. 

When I left the shop it was a touch on the high side, so after a ride around the car park to test the height and seeing the sheer panic on my face when we stopped MOH readjusted my saddle.  Only this time it was too low, so by the time we got to the traffic lights - and our next stop - I already had a pain in my knee. We tried again, too high.  And again, too low. 

Running short of patience I was all for walking home, but MOH is more persistent than me and so we tried twice more. We ended up cycling back a way we'd not been before - goodness knows how, it's only twenty minutes or so from our house - but I've found another hill I can cycle up. Thank you Eastcombe Avenue.

The plan was to cycle to work again this week, but it hasn't happened. It's been a bit too warm for me to cycle if I'm honest, and I'm not complaining. But I'm always aware of the fact that the journey home is uphill!  Maybe next week (as long as it's not raining!)

My photo this week is another of the giant fuchsias. I was admiring its frilliness and it came off in my hand, oops.  It was too pretty to just throw onto the compost heap though, they're such pretty flowers.

Blogger Showcase: Madi from Malicious Madi

Madi's full answers are over on Morgan's blog today so do pop over there and find out more about Madi. Before you go though let me tell you a little about her and her blog. She's relatively new to blogging and can't let go of it.  She likes to write about anything inspirational and says she gets inspired easily. Do pop over to Morgan's and find out about our young blogger this week, and don't forget to show her some social love on Twitter and Instagram.

An InLinkz Link-up

Post Comment Love and Blogger Showcase 11 - 13 August 2017

Hello there and welcome to this week's #PoCoLo - if you were here last week it was great to see you and if you're new here then a big warm welcome from both Morgan and me. As usual I'm catching up with myself but I know there's some fabulous posts in store for me, and I'm sure you'll all find some great posts - and possibly some new blogs - to read.

At the start of the week my bike went in for a service and it seems that I need a new chain and cogs (that's about as technical as I get) and we worked out I've clocked up 1,264 miles on my seven-gear basketed bike. I don't think the guy in the bike shop could quite believe it as *apparently* I'm not supposed to use it for long cycles. I'm not sure what I am supposed to use, but we didn't go there as no doubt the view would be that I should have multiple bikes...

I am thinking of changing my bike, but I think one is plenty.  Unlike MOH who appears to be racking them up, he's hoping his second new bike will be ready for collection this weekend. In fact I am too as we're planning a bit of a cycle into Kent. MOH is planning our destination and route, and is under no illusion that it needs to include a very nice cafe.

I think the talking point of this week has to be the weather, or rather the lack of summer weather. I got drenched on my way to work on Wednesday and then again when I popped out for lunch and was so glad there were hand dryers in the toilets as I needed them to try my skirt!  Of course I got drenched again yesterday evening but somehow the weather contributed to the ambience of the evening, and helped the HomeSense "Christmas in August" feel quite realistic.  It was a great evening, and they have some fabulous items in their Christmas ranges, and for the metallic magpie in me it's both good and bad!

My photo this week is from the event on Wednesday. I'm not normally a fan of things with my name on, but this place label alongside this bowl-shaped glass of prosecco was very welcome.

Blogger Showcase: Louise from Lou Ekai

1. Who are you?

I'm Louise, I'm 20 years old and I'm a single mum of a healthy one year old boy! My blog is Lou Ekai and I love holistic methods to solving any problems to do with skin, hair and health and I'm very in tune to nature. I'm currently studying a degree in social studies and on my free days I make the most with my son by going to messy play, or swimming.

2. How did you discover blogs/blogging?

I've always had a passion for writing and I remember having tumblr, and people wanted to ask more questions about my life, and even on my ask.fm. I don't know why I didn't set up a blog sooner, because I enjoyed answering questions my followers asked. I looked into making my own blog for a couple of months and decided to go with Wordpress, and sort of went with it! Before that and even to this day, I would binge on other people's blogs and YouTube channels and I really loved the idea of having my own one day.

3. Why did you start blogging?

I started blogging because it was letting off steam with life as a new single mum. I was scared and having my own space to write whatever I wanted, putting that negative energy into a post about positivity or trying to encourage others to be positive and getting an amazing response, almost became addictive.  I loved the feeling that I was actually helping other people feel good about themselves or their circumstances, they liked what I wrote, or they could at least relate to what I was going through at the time.

4. What do you find most challenging?

Letting my anxiety get the better of me regarding my blog. I've always been scared that old school members or family members would find my blog and say negative things about it, but lately I've created other social media accounts and am more confident in collaborating with other bloggers to write guests posts. So I'm making progress on not thinking about what others think, because I thoroughly enjoy writing my blog.

5. What is your favourite topic to write about?

I love to write about positivity topics encouraging people to think positively, hold on to hope and be patient. These posts make me feel good because even if I'm helping just one person, that's good enough. 

6. Are you blogging for fun or do you have goals?

I started out blogging for fun, but now I hope to make this a career as I'm enjoying writing.

7. What is your favourite thing about blogging?

The blogging community which I was so unaware about when I was only posting here and there. Everyone who I've emailed and communicated with have been so friendly, even if they have way more followers than me. Which is encouraging and has given me confidence.

8. Have you ever attended a blogging conference and if so, what did you think?

I would love to attend a blogging conference in the future.

9. What are your 3 best posts?

1. You are beautiful, here's why...

2. Garnier Soothing Botanical Rose Water Cleansing Milk & Toner

3. Nu Skin: Fluoride whitening Toothpaste: Let's Be Real

10. Describe yourself in three words!

Tall, Friendly and Kind-Hearted 💕

11. Are you a tea and biscuits or coffee and cake person?

Tea and biscuits! The amount of tea I drink is so unhealthy it's became an addiction!

12. What's your idea of a perfect night out?

An environment where I feel completely comfortable around everyone who's there which will allow me to loosen up, because I am an introvert it's hard for me to go to clubs as it is.

13. Your perfect night in?

A scented candle on, a fluffy pillow and a lovely cuddly throw, an interesting movie/TV series and comfy Pyjamas in the living room. Before I would have been based in my bedroom with fairy lights and clean silky bedsheets but I co-sleep with my LO so this is impossible now!

14. What would your best friend/mum or kids say is your best quality?

My mum always has told me I'm a very determined person and I have a big heart. My best friend has said that I'm such a good listener and that I give good advice.

Connect with Louise here:

Pinterest   -  Instagram  -  Twitter

Thanks Louise, it's lovely to find out more about you. Please do proudly display your "I was featured" badge on your blog.

An InLinkz Link-up