Post Comment Love and Blogger Showcase 22-24 September 2017

Hello there and welcome to another Friday and another #PoCoLo!  Despite best intentions I seem even more behind than before but as ever I've a master plan to correct that, and if all else fails please know I will get to your post soon. If you were here last week, it was great to see you and I know there's some great posts in my reading list, and if you're new here this week then welcome, it's great to have you along.

In the past week I fell back in love with my plot (well, maybe not the weeds) and with the garden and took a day off to head to Doncaster for a whole day of crafting. It involved colouring, cutting out and a laminator and you may have already spotted the results on instagram. It was great, and a little bit indulgent, to take a day off work for this but it was good to see the Fellowes set up first hand to and to meet up with other bloggers too - look out for more on the day soon.

There were some fantastic brownies there - actually the food and hospitality were brilliant all day - but looking through my photos from the week, this blondie from Miss Friday Bakery had to be the one to share. At the time of writing this post, it was still in the wrapper - but I think you know me well enough by now, to not ask if it's still intact!

Blogger Showcase: Penny from Pebble Pen

 1. Who are you?

I'm Penny Dawinter, 19 year old student, born in Hertfordshire, raised in Kent, flirted about with Hampshire & Wiltshire before settling in Yorkshire with my gamer boyfriend, Joel. Surrey is the next great adventure! An ex-bookseller at Waterstones and avid book-blogger. Lover of life, flowers, books, tea, coffee, cats, dogs and all sorts! Too many passions and too little time! My profile picture was drawn for me at London Comic-con (and yes I actually wore the ears!), and my blog is Pebble Pen.

2. How did you discover blogs/blogging?

I read other blogs like girlxoxo and the Waterstones blog. I read a friend’s art blogs and had a tumblr account for a short while as well. I did a creative writing AS course and was encouraged from there to post on a blog regularly, but my fiction pieces were rarely ever blog post length!

3. Why did you start blogging?

I started working at a book store and from there it just flowed. I love meeting people that share my passion, and outside of work, that didn’t really happen, so I formed my book blog. It’s still got a way to go but I’m proud to call it mine.

4. What do you find most challenging?

Finding an audience of genuine people that will enjoy my blog posts. I am active on social media, replying to other bloggers posts and following them, but sometimes it just seems like I’m collecting statistics and not real people that enjoy reading and can give constructive advice to improving the blog. 

5. What is your favourite topic to write about?

Books!

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

I blog for fun, as I think everyone should, but I have goals also. I want to make a bit of pocket money from it, but have no great ambition as far as worldwide blog stardom is concerned! My goals are a few posts a month and to make the blog a little bit better every so often.

7. What is your favourite thing about blogging?

The reading part! But second best the writing part! Third best is the fantastic people I’ve met! And fourth is making the blog all pretty and stuff!

8. Have you ever attended a blogging conference?

Nope, sadly enough.

9. What are your three best posts?

1st: January 2017 Monthly Motif Challenge - Pantomime Laura Lam

2nd: Borne - Jeff Vandermeer

3rd: Romana's Freedom - M.P.A. Hanson

10. Describe yourself in three words:

Please God no.

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

Coffee and cake!!!

12. What is your idea of the perfect night out?

A meal and a few drinks with a close circle of friends that I can get excited about and dress up. Chatting and catching up with people I haven’t seen in a while. Joking, laughing and enjoying good pub food. 

13. Your perfect night in?

Me and Joel, a flawless Indian takeaway (delivered early of course and with tons of free poppadums) watching a Studio Ghibli film with the duvet around us on the sofa and the dog snuggled in somewhere too. Hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows. I also get hand-fed chocolate in this scenario too.

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

Best friend: optimism and sense of humour

OH: honesty

Mum: generosity

Kids: WOW hold the phone I’m only 19 gimme a chance!

Thanks Penny for sharing your answers it's great to find out more about you and your blog, and I hope you'll find some new blogs and connections through this feature, don't forget to grab your "I was featured on PoCoLo badge" for your blog!

If you'd like to be featured in a future Bloggers Showcase then please do get in touch, our waiting list has just inched into 2018 (I know, that's scary!) but Morgan and I would love to add you to this list.

An InLinkz Link-up

Post Comment Love 15 - 17 September 2017

Hello there and hello Friday - I've been looking forward to it this week, I don't mind saying!  If you were here last week it was great to see you, and if you're new here this week you're very welcome and it's great to have you along. As usual there were great posts last week, I'm still making my way around them as my newly found love of crocheting still has its hold. I'm certain there'll be equally great posts this week, because that's what you do!

It's been a week of dodging rain though hasn't it? I've seen many posts on Facebook about how it always seems to rain for the school run, it also seems to be timing it to coincide with my walk home.  Somehow the skies darken almost at a flick of a switch and you know the rain is coming but there's little you can do about it. Of course the times I've had my umbrella and/or waterproof with me the weather has improved and the times I've left the office without them, I've been caught out.

Our heating has also snuck itself on a couple of mornings this week and I can't say I'm sorry at all. The underfloor heating in the bathroom is one of the best things we've ever done. I love autumn - the colours, the food but not the damp so much. It's hard to believe that this time last year we were experiencing temperatures of thirty four degrees. I remember melting but it seems unbelievable now.

I'm resisting the move into tights. I had a brief foray into that world on Monday but quickly retreated. They are the most awful things and will be avoided for as long as possible. I'm hoping to hold out until we come back from Portugal in mid-October, which I'm counting as my 'summer' holiday!

My photo this week is from my walk home Thursday evening. It had just finished raining and there was a rainbow ahead of me. Walking over the approach road to the Blackwall tunnel I spotted the yellowing leaves of the rowan tree against the moody sky, and couldn't help but be reminded of a country hedgerow.  It's far from that but momentarily it could have been!

Bloggers Showcase: Jess from The Queen is in Town

Firstly what a great name for a blog!  I'd love to know how that came about - perhaps it's a question we should add!  Jess says she's always been blogging for fun and to find people who think the same. She's from Luxembourg and loves make up and books and a good night should include plenty of laughter. I think all the best nights do.  Thanks Jess, it's great to showcase your blog as part of #PoCoLo.

Connect with Jess on Instagram and Twitter before you pop over to Morgan's blog to find out more about Jess and her blog.

If you'd like to be featured in a future bloggers showcase we'd love to feature you.  Our waiting list has just dipped into the new year (eek!) but get in touch with your answers now to secure your spot.

An InLinkz Link-up

Post Comment Love & Blogger Showcase 8-10 September 2017

Hello there and welcome to another #PoCoLo - if you were here last week, it was great to see you and if you're linking with Morgan and I for the first time this week, we're really pleased you've chosen to join us. We know you're going to find some fab posts to read and we're looking forward to catching up with all of you. 

As ever, for me, life has been busy and as crazy as normal. Not helped, I think, by deciding to learn to crochet last weekend - like you do - after seeing the most beautiful blanket, which I blogged about earlier this week.  I managed to teach myself and I am hooked (pun intended) and can't believe I thought it was so hard.  It's a portable craft too, and as I said on twitter I've mastered the carrying around bit, now I need to practice the taking it out of my handbag and doing it!  

Small steps and all that...

My photo this week is one from Greenwich Park, I spotted the cheery yellow pine cone flowers as fancying a change, I walked my winter route to work. I was so glad I did. This week I've also decided to move on in my "year in Greenwich Park" series, but not because I've fallen out of love with it, but more because I'm just enjoying it.

Blogger Showcase: Mrs Smith from Finally Mrs Smith

1. Who are you?

I am Mrs. Smith and I blog over at Finally Mrs Smith. A midwest girl who is making the best of marriage, motherhood, and myself. 

2. How did you discover blogging?

I discovered blogging in a course I was taking about technology in the classroom. 

3. Why did you start blogging?

I started blogging as a way to share my thoughts, experiences, and knowledge. 

4. What do you find most challenging?

I go through phases of challenges. Sometimes it's posting regularly. Sometimes it's figuring out what to post about. Right now my challenge is growing my audience. 

5. What is your favourite topic to write about?

My favorite topic to write about are my littles and reviews on products and services. 

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

I am currently blogging for fun but would Love to make it a business. I have a topic I am working on that I think can take me in that direction. 

7. What is your favourite thing about blogging?

My favorite thing about blogging is that I control it. 

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

I have never attended a blogging conference. 

9. What are your 3 best posts?

1. My husband is trying to kill me

2. Bathroom Remodel

3. A pad/tampon free period!

10. Describe yourself in three words!

Three words that describe me are entertaining, petty, hopeful. 

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

Can I choose tea and cake?  I Love cake and tea. I don't do coffee. 

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

For me the perfect night out would consist of nonstop laughing, food, and something physical like laser tag. 

13. Your perfect night in?

The perfect night in would consist of great food (that I don't have to prepare or clean up), board games, friends and family and good music. 

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

They would say I'm sweet/nice. 

Great answers, thanks Mrs Smith - so nice to find out a bit more about you.  And definitely yes to tea and cake, cake with anything is a winning combo in my book!  Thanks for taking part, and please do grab your "I was featured in #PoCoLo" badge.

Before you link up, please do take a look and connect with Mrs Smith on her social channels: Twitter  -  Facebook  -  Instagram  -  Pinterest

An InLinkz Link-up