Post Comment Love & Blogger Showcase 26-28 April

Hello there and welcome to this week’s #PoCoLo a friendly linky where you can link any post published in the last week. It’s good to be back after a break for Easter, and an Easter with such lovely weather, although it would be good to have that back too, wouldn’t it?

Both Morgan and I know you’ll find some great posts to read, maybe some new-to-you blogs too, so do pop over to some of the posts linked and take the time to leave a comment or two so that everyone benefits from some extra love.

I had a relaxing Easter, got a little bit sunburnt in the Norfolk wind, and probably relaxed a little too much as I took an impromptu break from my blog and all the tasks I thought I’d get on with. The result is I'm more behind than I was before, but I’m trying not to beat myself up about that as it’s rare that I don’t post anything for a week, so I think perhaps I needed that break.

CHERRY BLOSSOM IN GREENWICH PARK

Blogger Showcase: Nicky from The Organised Blogger and Spinnin’ Plates

1 Who are you?

Hi I'm Nicky. The creator of Ready To Go! Social Media Graphics Membership and Virtual Assistant at The Organised Blogger along with running my Blog Spinnin Plates. I am also mum of 3, partner to Andy and woofa owner!  Living in North Devon, when we are not working,  we try to spend as much of our time on the beautiful coastline and beaches.

With nearly 30 years of experience including roles as a Personal Assistant in an Advertising Agency, Devon County Council School Administrator, Social Media Designer and Manager, I soon realised that my unique set of skills could help my local and online community.

2 How did you discover blogs/blogging?

I discovered Blogging shortly after I hit breaking point in 2017.  I was working full time, running a busy family and home. Feeling stressed, overwhelmed and struggling in every way to do it all and be everything to everyone.  I wanted to share my story, to help others in my position.  That’s when Spinnin’ Plates started.

 My mix of passions has helped mould the path that led me towards starting The Organised Blogger in 2018.

3 Why did you start blogging?

I love working to create a thriving home, life and business and helping other bloggers, small businesses and entrepreneurs to do the same; by minimising daily admin tasks, creating high quality visual graphics, content research and social media management to save time, increase followers and engagement!

Initially, I found it challenging learning on the job.  When you first start blogging, you have no idea what it takes to blog successfully, but I’m a perfectionist and I put my heart and soul into learning full time and within just three months had completed a course and joined an amazing group with a superb mentor.

4 What do you find most challenging?

Initially, I found it challenging learning on the job.  When you first start blogging, you have no idea what it takes to blog successfully, but I’m a perfectionist and I put my heart and soul into learning full time and within just three months had completed a course and joined an amazing group with a superb mentor.

5 Are you blogging for fun or do you have goals?

I now run both my Blog and Business side by side.  Within Spinnin’ Plates I share tips to other busy mums to help them create a calm, organised life.  Over at The Organised Blogger, I offer professional, engaging social media graphics month after month, to suit every Blogger, Small Business, V.A. or Agency. Along with a variety of Virtual Assistant services.

6 What is your favourite thing about blogging?

Blogging has evolved over the years and for me, it is now very much a business, with set goals and I’m happy to say this is not only fun, but the benefits of finding such a wonderful, warm and welcoming community of strong, independent women has been the icing on the cake.

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

Living in the South West of England I have found it pretty hard to make any blogging events as it’s always a day there and a day back.  I do have an incredible online tribe and I have started going to local networking events, which has been wonderful.

8 What are your 3 best posts?

My top posts are:

1.  What is your Superpower?

2. Why I’m unfriending you

3. Design Apps for every novice and expert

9 Describe yourself in three words

If I were to describe myself in three words…Kind, generous and (super)organised!

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

After giving up caffeine 2 years ago this month, I am a hot lemon and honey person, and cake, always cake.

11 What's your idea of a perfect night out?

My perfect night out would be dinner with friends.  To get out of the home office and see normal people can’t be underestimated!

12 Your perfect night in?

My perfect night in is always when my partner is home, he travels around the world with his job, so it’s a rare treat!  A nice gin and tonic and a good film, not forgetting a giant bar of galaxy!

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

I think people would say that I am always thinking of others. (but they would all agree, I don’t do enough for myself!).

Thanks for sharing more about yourself and your blogs Nicky. You can connect with Nicky on her social channels here:

Spinnin’ Plates: Facebook - Twitter - Instagram
The Organised Blogger: Facebook - Twitter - Instagram

If you’d like to be featured as a future Blogger Showcase, then please answer our questions and get in touch. Our waiting list is the shortest it’s been for a while, so you could be featured in a couple of weeks - and we’d love to share more about you, and your blog.

Post Comment Love & Blogger Showcase 12-14 April

Hello there and welcome to this week’s #PoCoLo a friendly linky where you can link any post published in the last week. If you were here last week it was great to see you, and if you’re new here this week then you’re very welcome. Both Morgan and I know you’ll find some great posts to read, maybe some new-to-you blogs too, so do pop over to some of the posts linked and take the time to leave a comment or two so that everyone benefits from some extra love.

We’re taking a break next week and #PoCoLo will return on 26 April.

The past few weeks life has got in the way for me so I’ve plenty of catching up to do. With Easter approaching - I know, how? - I’m hoping to use some of that time constructively. I’ve been in that place where you have so much to do and on your mind that it completely immobilises you, and nothing ends up getting done.

You might have seen on my Instagram stories that I’ve been suffering with pain in my hips, and have been for a few months and that course of Vitamin D tablets were to help with that. They did, and my body is holding on to Vitamin D now which is good news, but the pain persists. The tests have ruled out Polymyalgia, which I never really thought it was in any case, now I’m on some new tablets which I’m hopeful will help.

What didn’t help is a fall down the stairs - well one step- at work Monday evening. I’m not sure how it happened, but I ended up bruising a knuckle and my knee and lightly headbutting the wall. It wasn’t the most conventional of landings and I’m not sure whether to be pleased or embarrassed that someone was following behind and able to pick me up. Since then I’ve been concentrating on walking more successfully, let’s hope that continues!

Photo by Lindsay Henwood on Unsplash

Blogger Showcase: Bethany from New Age Dream Chick

1 Who are you?

My name is Bethany Boggs. I am a freelancer and owner of both DIYmommy18.com and newagedreamchick.com. I have 2 kids, a toddler and an elementary schooler and I have been married almost 9 years. In February, I finally got my first dream interpretation reference book published on Lulu publishing. It’s a guided dream analysis journal. I started studying dream interpretation at the age of seven, I’m 31 now and continue studying. Writing is my number one passion and hobby. My others are crafting, sewing and cooking/baking.

2 How did you discover blogs/blogging?

I can’t remember how I discovered blogging, to be honest. My first blog was started in 2006 but I didn’t understand anything about generating traffic nor did I stick with it. I have had four or five blogs total before I started Newagedreamchick.com in 2017.

3 Why did you start blogging?

I started as a way of trying to put my knowledge of dreams and dream interpretation out there for other people to read. That’s one of the ways I got my name, NewAgeDreamChick. This blog also started out with the intent of being both a writing portfolio for getting writing jobs, but also to tie in to my Etsy shop (same name) where I do dream analysis (among other things).

4 What do you find most challenging?

The part I find most challenging is coming up with a schedule. I prefer writing when I want, which can easily be multiple times a day then skipping two or three days. Staying with a set schedule is hard for me with most anything.

5 What is your favourite topic to write about?

My favourite topic to write about varies. I love writing about parenting or other topics that get me googling and researching.

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

I am both blogging for fun and with goals. I won’t go into detail about the goals, but I am trying to get my name out while I’m working on writing a couple books I want to either get published or self publish. Writing is one of my true passions, so if I can work up to making a living doing it, it would be great.

7 What is your favourite thing about blogging?

My favourite thing about blogging is hitting “publish” after working on a long post. Some of my posts took over a month to fully write and research.

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

No. I would love to get the chance to attend a conference, though.

9 What are your 3 best posts?

I’m not sure what my “best” posts would be. Some of my favorites would be

1. Is drinking really worth it?

2. 4 fast ways to incorporate mindfulness and slow down in your hectic life

3. Simple steps to starting Paleo on a budget

10 Describe yourself in three words

Creative, airheaded, intelligent

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

I’m neither, I’m more of a coffee and cookie type.

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

My perfect night out bowling, playing pool and eating out after.

13 Your perfect night in?

My perfect night in- writing, sewing while my kids sit around doing crafts and watching movies

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

One of my best traits, according to my closest friends/family- One of my close friends said it was that she could come to me with any problem and I would try to help and wouldn’t judge. Most of my other friends and family members just roll their eyes when I ask and laugh the question off.

Thanks for sharing more about you and your blogs Bethany. You can connect with Bethany on her social channels here: Twitter - Instagram - Facebook

If you’d like to be a future Blogger Showcase then please send us the answers to your questions and we can sort out a date. Our waiting list is currently shorter than it has been for a while, so we’d be keen to hear from you.

Post Comment Love and Blogger Showcase 29 - 31 March

Hello there and welcome to this week’s #PoCoLo a friendly linky where you can link any post published in the last week.  If you were here last week, it was great to see you and if you’re new here this week, then you’re very welcome.  Both Morgan and I know you’ll find some great posts to read, and encourage you to pop over to some of the posts linked and take the time to leave a comment or two so that everyone benefits from some extra love.

So we’ve reached the day that should have been Brexit, but isn’t. Where we’d hoped things would be sorted, but they seem as far away as ever of being resolved. Parliament seems in even more disarray than most of us thought possible and no doubt, there’s still a few more dramas to come.

My first reaction when we discovered that it was no longer Brexit day this week, was thank goodness for that, I’ve already got a busy week. And it has been busy, with lots of toing and froing, but I think I’m making progress, slow but progress nonetheless.

My photo this week is another from Joyful Living in Norfolk, look closely and you’ll see it’s a rug made from scraps of leather, and is totally gorgeous and quite unusual, with such delicate colours. Although I’m sure that’s deceptive as I bet it’s much more hardwearing than it looks.

Blogger Showcase: Davis from Everything Starts With Tea

1 Who are you?

Hey, I’m Davis from Everything Starts With Tea. I’m a single parent to one beautiful little lady, I’m animal mad and own pretty much a small zoo consisting of a dog, two rabbits, two hamsters and a mouse! I run on a lack of sleep and an abundance of cold tea, complete with milk and two sugars.

My corner of the internet is all about lifestyle, parenting, mental health, self improvement and blogging, I like to think that it’s a reflection of me, as those are all topics of which I feel passionate about. There’s sure to be book reviews in the future, too, as I’m never without a good read on the go.

2 How did you discover blogs/blogging?

I actually discovered the world of YouTube first, obsessively watching a few of the popular ones with their beauty, fashion and lifestyle offerings. I discovered one of my favourites had started a blog initially, and so a whole new world was opened up to me. A world of which is much better suited to me and my passion for the written word.

3 Why did you start blogging?

After finding other people’s blogs and becoming hooked,  I decided I wanted to get involved too. I don’t thrive in social settings due to my anxiety and it seemed like a good way to make new friends online. One of my favourite hobbies is writing, so I eventually bit the bullet and got involved. My only wish is that I’d done it sooner! That was in 2015 with a previous blog. My current blog is born after a blogging hiatus and I’m so excited to be back in the thick of it!

4 What do you find most challenging?

As I already mentioned, I’m a Mom. I also have other responsibilities aside from my daughter and so balancing everything in my life alongside blogging can be a huge struggle. Sometimes my time management can be a little off and that’s when things start to slip. The technical side of things can prove tricky for me, too. The C-panel is NOT my friend!

5 What is your favourite topic to write about?

Ooo this is a tough one. I enjoy writing about all the topics within my blog (lifestyle, parenting, mental health, self improvement and blogging) but if I had to choose any for the top spot I’d maybe say self improvement... Or blogging.

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

Both! I love blogging and with my last blog I was purely blogging for the fun of it. I’ve started ESWT with the intention of making money though, too. I want to work from home so that I’m able to bring my daughter up myself, not having to put her into childcare. So, I really hope to be eventually making a living from my little corner of the web.

7 What is your favourite thing about blogging?

Connecting with other bloggers and being a part of an amazing community. Writing comes as a very close second, but I’ve made so many amazing friends through blogging, some I consider to be my best friends. It’s the cherry on top of an incredibly delicious cake! 

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

I haven’t, but I’d definitely be interested in doing so! This is one of those things I’d like to add to my never ending to-do list: find out about any local blogging events!

9 What are your three best posts?

For variety I’ll share posts from different categories.

1. Parenting: Pregnant to an abusive partner. What should I do?

2. Self Improvement & Lifestyle: Try these 113 ways to improve your lifestyle now

3. Mental Health: The SAD side of Winter and how you can help

10 Describe yourself in three words.

Clumsy, empathetic and loopy!

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

Tea, biscuits and cake... And any other sugary treat available... Actually, food in general. 😝

12 What’s your idea of a perfect night out?

I don’t actually go out any more since having my daughter, but I used to enjoy having a few pre-drinks whilst getting ready with the girls and then heading to somewhere with karaoke! I prefer pubs to clubs, or something kind of in the middle with a dancefloor but plenty of seating available.

13 Your perfect night in?

Candles lit, plenty of snacks and reading a good book. I like to have DVD nights with my Mom, too, complete with tonnes of snacks and maybe a gin or two thrown in. If it’s a perfect night, the ultimate for me would be a combination of the two! Topped off with a snuggle with my little one once I finally get to my bed.

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

Asked my Mom and she said it’s my compassion. My toddler would probably call me an egg, not because I am an egg, but because that’s her favourite word these days. 😝

Thanks Davis for sharing more about you and your blog. Before you link up why not pop over to Davis’ social channels, as we all know how much a new follower or two is appreciated: Twitter - Instagram - Facebook

If you’d like to be featured in a future Blogger’s Showcase then please send Morgan or I the answers to our questions and we can sort out a date.