Post Comment Love & Blogger Showcase 14-16 September

Hello there and welcome to this week’s #PoCoLo - if you were here last week, it was great to see you. If you’re new here this week, then you’re very welcome. Don’t forget when you link up if you tag Morgan and I we’ll happily retweet your post, and we’ll usually share your post when we read it too.

This week has been a busy one so far, and there’s still more to come, but there’s been time for socialising with friends too, so it’s not been bad at all. This stint of busyness has an end in sight though, and that’s good, because it’s been pretty full on. Then I’ll be spending time trying to catch up with myself, doing the things I’ve neglected both at work and at home, and here too.

There’s not been many, if any photos this week and so rather than go photo-less like last week, I’ve jumped back to last September. This pretty pebble door stood out, partly for its attractiveness but also because we’ve started tackling our own front door. It’s taken a bit of a battering from the nice weather, and when we took the sofas out and some brute force was needed.

We have the paint, and it’s not too dissimilar to this colour, but now we just need the time to make it happen. Just the painting, we’re not going for the pebbled look. That might be quite weird in London.

A Devonian front door, with pebbles

Blogger Showcase: Alina from Fairytale Pretty Picture

1, Who are you?

I’m Alina Ghost and I’m an interior blogger at The Fairytale Pretty Picture and podcast founder & host of SEO with Mrs Ghost

2. How did you discover blogs/blogging?

I discover blogs through attending events, social media and definitely from friends’ recommending their favourites too. I enjoy the blogging community and the support everyone gives to each other. 

3. Why did you start blogging?

I was reading blogs for inspiration and always found that there was a pretty picture I fell in love with. I wanted to inspire people too and document my crafts and redecorating projects. It then evolved very quickly.

4. What do you find most challenging?

Having enough time to do everything I want to do. I work full time and so blogging and podcasting is a hobby. Doing it on the weekend and fitting it all in with life-admin can be a real challenge but it’s all worth it!

5. What is your favourite topic to write about?

Interiors. So homeware, DIY, furniture makeovers and the like. It’s a load of fun to see a crappy corner of the house turn into an Instagram sensation. 

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

A mix of both. I did have goals for years and it helped me grow and focus my attention on particular areas. Most recently however I have moved away from blogging frequently in order to spend time with my dying nan but she passed away the other day so I’m sure I’ll plunge back in no time. 

7. What is your favourite thing about blogging?

The community and the support that it offers. Everyone so far is has been absolutely lovely and it’s great to hear feedback about your own work too. 

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

Yes, there was plenty to learn and great people to meet. It was also a good opportunity to speak to brands and get the blog name out there. 

9. What are your 3 best posts?

I love fairytales and so I put together this post on the 9+ interiors that would look like a fairytale in the real world and if you had the design in your home. 

The second article I’d say would be 10 ways to decorate a rented place. As less and less people are able to afford a property I think these tips are really important to people.

Last but not least my how to make wardrobe sachets is the most visited post every week. People LOVE it because it’s super easy and super helpful.

10. Describe yourself in three words!

Enthusiastic, friendly and vibrant. 

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

ALL of the above. I’m a feeder at work haha. I love biscuits and cake and I’m always drinking tea and coffee... yup, even when it’s 30+ degrees. 

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

I would say a girly night out with food and cocktails would be perfect after a busy working week. It’s great to relax and enjoy great food as well as company. 

13. Your perfect night in?

With my husband and pup watching a sci-fi or horror movie. I would also add a glass of red wine in with that if I may…

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

I think they’d say I’m helpful. I enjoy aiding others and would go out of my way to go above and beyond what a family member or friend would do. Hopefully they’ll agree!

Post Comment Love 7-9 September

Hello there and welcome to this week's #PoCoLo and a slightly later than usual post from me thanks to a busy (and long) few days at work, a short snooze and the distinct lack of Internet.  If you were here last week it was great to see you, if you're new here this week then welcome - I'm usually a last minute kind of girl, but not quite this much!

After a couple of full on days I had my evening planned to catch up on all things online, and after a quick snooze made some good progress.  Settling in with a cuppa to read some great posts, which you linked up last week I found that the internet said no.  So here I am once again playing catch up - it is the story of my life, I really shouldn't be surprised!

This week Morgan is back from her hols, and quite some holiday by all accounts.  Morgan is also hosting this week's Blogger Showcase, so do pop over and find out more about...

Blogger Showcase: Anne from Forever the Wanderer

Anne is an Irish travel and mental health blogger with a severe case of wanderlust and has been blogging for just four months.  She has big plans too, including organising a blog event for Irish bloggers who are just starting their blogger journey.  But the real test, and for me the question that matters is always the one involving cake - Anne says she has a massive sweet tooth, so while she's not a fan of tea or coffee, it's cake all the way!

Before you pop over to Morgan's blog to find out more about Anne, do take a moment to connect with her on her social channels: Twitter  -  Facebook  -  Instagram  -  Pinterest.

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.