Post Comment Love and Blogger Showcase: 31 August - 2 September

Hello there and welcome to this week's #PoCoLo - I'm struggling to believe that the weekend will bring September.  I know I'm a serial under-estimator of time, but even by my standards this is quite something.  If you were here last week it was great to see you, if you're new here then you're very welcome, I'm sure you will find some great posts to read this week so please do take some time to take a look at some of them.

For the last time this week I'm joined by Suzanne from Chicken Ruby who's co-hosting with me while Morgan is on her holidays, so do please also pop over to say hello.  A huge thank you to Suzanne and Nikki from Someplace Strange who joined me co-hosting over the summer.

My big news of the week happened Wednesday evening as I was getting ready for bed.  Given the turn in the weather I decided that long pyjamas were needed and there, wouldn't you know, nestled in among my pyjamas was my long lost belt.  I'd given up finding it, and of course had that day received an email to say my new belt was on its way.  

I knew that would happen, but you know just finding this belt made me so happy.  Partly because I have my belt back, but mostly because the mystery has been solved, and my brain can now stop imagining bizarre and even more bizarre scenarios and hiding places for my belt.  It's been missing since the start of the month, and had been playing on my mind.  But now it's found.  Phew.

Blogger Showcase: Sarah from Five Step Sarah

1. Who are you? 

Hello! I'm a newbie blogger from a small town in northern Idaho. Writing has always been one of my favorite hobbies, so it's been very exciting to turn my hobby into a potential career. I love the outdoors, crafts/DIY, spending time with my 4-year-old son, my boyfriend, and my pets. I'm passionate about helping others, so my blog is all about making life easy! 

2. How did you discover blogging?

I was (and still am) tired of my 8-5 job and I was searching for a way to make income from home. I found a group about starting a monetised blog, and decided to make the leap.

3. Why did you start blogging?

I have a wonderful 4-year-old son that I'd love to spend more time with. I'd love to do more camping, hiking, and exploring with my family and most importantly, I'd love to be my own boss! I feel very restricted by my full-time job, like I'm missing out on my son's childhood, missing out on trips and experiences, missing out on LIFE, so I started my blog with the hopes of eventually being able to quit my job and blog full time.

4. What do you find most challenging?

Currently it's been very challenging to find the time to work on my blog. With a full-time job, a child, pets, and a house to take care of, it's difficult to find time to sit down and write. 

5. What is your favourite topic to write about?

I really enjoy writing posts that could potentially help someone. Money-saving tips, household DIY, and parenting topics are fun for me to write. I stick to the rule of 5. My posts are 5 ingredients, minutes, things, thoughts, etc. I want my blog to be a source that can help people, and my rule of 5 makes my posts easier for my readers to follow, understand, and implement. 

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

As I said previously, my goal is to eventually be a full-time blogger. The idea of escaping my desk job is what keeps me going and keeps me motivated to work on my blog. For now I'm working on short-term goals like finding brands to work with, making connections, growing my social media, and creating content. My long term goals are financial freedom and being my own boss!

7. What is your favourite thing about blogging?

I've gained a lot of great new friends and acquaintances in the blogging community. I love how supportive bloggers are to each other and I've really enjoyed getting to know other people from different countries and areas. It's great to see who's out there and what they have to offer! It's also been a great joy for me to get back into writing and learn new skills that are required to keep a blog up and running. 

8. What are your three best posts?

Here are three that I am proud of:

9. Describe yourself in 3 words

Positive, creative, driven. 

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

I am most definitely a coffee and cake person. My blood is probably 75% coffee! I also have a terrible sweet tooth. 

11. What's your idea of the perfect night out? 

I rarely have nights out but when I do I love to get dressed up and go to dinner with my boyfriend, and then catch up with our friends and have a few drinks. There's also a painting class that I love going to where you do a wine tasting as you paint! 

12. Your perfect night in?

One of my favourite things to do is rent a couple of movies, order pizza, and stay up late watching our movies. We usually do this on Friday or Saturday night so there's no stress of getting my son to bed on time or getting up early for work. My son loves this because he gets to pick out whatever movie he wants and we always have popcorn, which is our favourite special snack! Plus, ordering pizza means I get a break from cooking dinner and doing dishes!

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

People around me tend to describe me as strong but sweet and kind-hearted. I'm also the friend that always gets enlisted to help with craft/DIY projects due to my creativity and artistic abilities.

Thanks Sarah for sharing more about you and your blog.  Before you link up take a moment to connect with Sarah on her social channels: Instagram  -  Pinterest  -  Facebook  -  Twitter.

If you'd like to be featured in a future blogger showcase, then please answer the questions and get in touch, and we'll sort out a date.

Post Comment Love and Blogger Showcase 24-27 August

Hello there and welcome to a Bank Holiday edition of #PoCoLo - this week the linky will stay open for an extra day, closing at 11pm on on Monday so there's a little bit more time to link up, as I'm sure you've got plans. I'm hoping for some sun, but well, it is Bank Holiday after all...

If you were here last week it was great to see you, if you're new here this week *hello* and welcome to our weekly linky.  Once again I'm joined by Suzanne from Chicken Ruby who's co-hosting with me while Morgan is on her holidays, so do please also pop over there to say hello.

We spent last weekend in Norfolk and after the quilting magic that mum told me about a couple of weeks ago I duly took my 2.5" strips with me aiming to cut them into 2.5" squares, all thirty three materials.  And I did, you might have seen that in my post from Mondayand later this week my very own piece of square perspex magic arrived in the post from mum. I'll need this for cutting out the background squares, so now I'm all set.

a perspex 2.5 inch template, which was a real help cutting out my quilt

It's been a week of long work days and I'm starting to feel like I'm making progress, but I also know that I promised to be kind to myself this year and I need to practice that more again especially when it comes to leaving work.  Once again I'm toying with the idea of going swimming, which is a bit weird as I'm not really a swimmer, but I do have a new swimming costume that wouldn't show me up.  I probably should sort out some kind of goggles though as contact lenses and swimming pools don't mix do they?

You might have already realised but I'm looking forward to the Bank Holiday and an extra day off, though of course we've jam-packed our weekend as usual with a visit to family, drinks with friends, plenty of gardening and if we're lucky with the weather a picnic in Greenwich Park listening to a jazz band, what are your plans?

Blogger Showcase: Ffion from The Untitled Blog

1. Who are you? 

My name is Ffion, and I currently live in the UK. I have a blog on tumblr which includes a number of my interests, such as writing, photography, advice, or all my thoughts. 

2. How did you discover blogs/blogging?

I discovered blogs and blogging at a young age byy watching many many YouTube videos, or reading online.

3. Why did you start blogging?

I started blogging as a way to express my interests. I see it as my little corner of the internet!

4. What do you find most challenging?

I think bloggers don’t necessarily get the recognition they deserve at times. So it’s always difficult to get recognition for your favourite blog posts.

5. What is your favourite topic to write about?

That’s a tough one! I love all my interests, but photography/writing definitely has to be my top go to.

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

It’s important as a blogger to have goals. Goals give you something to strive for. But I don’t forget how much I enjoy it, having a genuine passion for this is something I always keep in mind.

7. What is your favourite thing about blogging?

My favourite thing about blogging is definitely meeting friends and amazing people.

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

I’ve never attended a conference but would definitely love to.

9. What are your 3 best posts?

3 best posts. Hmm. Definitely my photography posts.

10. Describe yourself in three words!

Caring, kind, compassionate.

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

Tea and biscuits all the way.

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

I love nights out. My perfect night out would probably include, bowling and burgers.

13. Your perfect night in?

Nights in are amazing too. My perfect night in would be, a nice bubble bath, and a good movie.

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

They would say that I have a compassionate nature to all.

Thanks Ffion!

If you'd like to be featured as a future Blogger Showcase then please do get in touch.

Post Comment Love & Blogger Showcase 17-19 August

Hello there and welcome to this week's #PoCoLo - how's your week been?

If you were here last week, it was great to see you and thanks for sharing some great posts.  If you're new here this week, you're very welcome I'm sure you're going to find some great posts to read, and perhaps some new to you blogs too.  Once again I'm joined by Suzanne from Chicken Ruby who's co-hosting with me while Morgan is on her holidays, so do please also pop over there to say hello.

Last week was just a short post as it was also the day of my FIL's funeral, everything went as well as these things do and the weather certainly made itself known.  People were arriving in the pub completely soaked and we had a lovely afternoon sharing memories, and learning some new ones too.  There is of course, still much to do but this milestone has now taken place, and it was quite a task to get that to happen all told.

white rose

We'd planned to go for a boozy picnic in Greenwich Park on Sunday but it seemed the weather had other ideas (again) and so I dragged MOH cushion shopping instead, with some success.  MOH couldn't believe we needed that many cushions, but as we have three sofas to fill we definitely did and we left with six cushions from a couple of shops.  And a shopping list for two more, one to collect from my mum and another that I want to make from the samples I collected during our sofa shopping.  

It must be said that MOH is gobsmacked by all the soft furnishings - I'm sure he thought the one we bought in Yorkshire was plenty.  I've linked the cushions we browsed on our trip, so you can see the one that MOH chose!  I'll share our purchases soon, as I'm on a bit of a cushion roll.  And that boozy picnic has been rescheduled for Bank Holiday Monday when I'm sure the weather will be no better, or maybe it will...

Blogger Showcase: Kirsten from Obtaining Bliss

1. Who are you?

My name is Kirsten and I have a blog called ObtainingBliss.com. I write about personal development through depression and anxiety, domestic violence, and everything that helps a person find more bliss in their life.

2. How did you discover blogs/blogging?

I found blogging as a business through a site called MakingSenseofCents.com. She had a few posts on starting a blog as a business and I got interested.

3. Why did you start blogging?

I started blogging as a business because I really wanted to be an entrepreneur. That has since expanded to helping other women who also suffer from depression and anxiety and who may have experienced an abusive relationship find peace and bliss. Hence the name of my blog.

4. What do you find most challenging?

Juggling a full-time job with a full-time business and making sure to keep time for myself and my family.

5. What is your favourite topic to write about?

I have a few, but I love talking about self-care and personal development specifically for those suffering from depression.

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

Oh, I have BIG goals. But I do also write for fun - I think that's the best part of being a blogger is that I get to do what I love (write) and help others in the process. 

7. What is your favourite thing about blogging?

The connections. Meeting other bloggers and readers. Getting feedback from others about my content.

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

Yes, I attended the EBA Live conference. It was the very first conference by Ruth Soukup of Living Well Spending Less. When I first started blogging this was the course I got. This course put me on the right path to setting up my blog and being successful. The conference was awesome! I met so many people and got so much great feedback and learned so very very much. I would definitely recommend going to a blogging conference if you get the chance because it can be so beneficial for your blogging business.

9. What are your 3 best posts?

10. Describe yourself in 3 words.

Empath, tenacious, resilient.

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

Totally a coffee and cake person!

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

Dancing and singing with my favourite people.

13. Your perfect night in?

A good movie cuddled up with my hubby and/or my kiddos.

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

I actually did a survey with this exact question. They all said the same thing. I'm super loyal, have a huge heart and I'm very giving.

Thanks Kirsten - I love that you did some research for that final question!  Don't forget to connect with Kirsten's social channels:  Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest - Instagram.  

If you'd like to be featured as a future Blogger Showcase then please do get in touch.