The Blogging Brew - Page 20 of 35

Free Hand Drawn Phone Backgrounds

January 9, 2015 | No Comments

Winter break is basically the one time of year when I don’t have to do anything, which is surprisingly hard for me to deal with! It has been nice having all of this free time though, without any thoughts of school or homework or studying. My biggest accomplishment was definitely watching the entire Parks and Rec series in a week! Btw, if you haven’t watched it yet, it’s pretty much my favorite show now, second to The Office.

I couldn’t spend the entire break being unproductive though, so yesterday I pulled out my new Intuos tablet and taught myself a bit about using Illustrator (which is a million times harder than I thought). So here are a few freebies I made for y’all!

TOP: BE HAPPY / GREEN + WHITE STRIPES / MAKE IT HAPPEN

BOTTOM: MINT WATERCOLOR / XOXO / FIERCE

Why I Use thredUP

January 4, 2015 | 1 Comment

I’ve been meaning to make this post for a long time, and after months of putting it aside, I just couldn’t stand not telling y’all about this treasure of a website. I heard about it through a blogger that I can’t remember the name of to save my life, and I’ve been hooked ever since! I think I’m on my fifth box now? I’ve hyped this company* up so much by word of mouth, and I’m super eager to share it with my readers now. I’ll take you through one of my recent purchases (by recent I mean it arrived this morning and I’m still freaking out) and give you a quick run-through of the thredUP process. If you have any questions, let me know in the comments!

WHAT IS thredUP ANYWAY?

thredUP* is an online consignment store. They have a huge collection of clothing, shoes, and accessories that are either gently used or new with tags, and only put the best items on their website. You can find some fantastic brands like J.Crew, Gap, and Athleta at discounts of up to 90%! It’s hard to even buy something in-store when there are discounts like that online. And the awesome thing about thredUP is that you can buy AND sell clothing on the same site!

Like I said earlier, I’ve had quite a bit of experience with thredUP over the past few months. Every time I pull up the website or app, I find something I just have to get. You can easily customize the browsing feature and limit findings to your size, favorite brands, specific colors, and so much more. One thing I absolutely love is the personal shop feature. It allows you to save whatever customizations you’ve made to come back to later, and you can be notified when something that matches your specifications is added to the website. With people sending their clothes in all the time, it’s like having a new store to shop through every day!

I haven’t sold any of my clothing yet, so I won’t speak too much on that part, but I will say that it sounds super simple. They’ll send you a bag to put your items in, pay for the shipping, and pay you for every item they sell to someone. Perfect for those spring cleaning days!

HOW AFFORDABLE IS IT?

I’ve always been skeptical of shopping online, because I was convinced that once shipping costs were added in, it would be more expensive than just shopping in-store. thredUP completely changed my mind. On average, I spend about $30 per box, and buy between 4 and 6 items. Most of those items are quality brand clothing with in-store prices ranging from $15-$40. On thredUP, the average item I purchase is between $5 and $15, including dresses and sweaters! In fact, on my last order, everything I received was under $10. I could not be more pleased with the affordability!

STILL NOT HOOKED?

Here are a few other thredUP features that just top off what I’ve mentioned so far:

-shipping is free after $70! That might sound like a lot of money to spend, but if you only want to purchase a few times a year, you can load up on one box and easily surpass that line. Hello closet makeover!

-referrals! This is another reason I’ve found thredUP so affordable. They have a fantastic referral program, where every time someone signs up with your personal referral link*, they’ll receive $10 to spend. When they make a purchase, you’ll receive $10 too!

*these are referral links, so I will earn a bit if you use them, but you definitely don’t have to!

-fantastic brands! thredUP doesn’t except everything they receive, which is how they make their inventory so great. You can find brands like Lululemon, Madewell, The North Face, and LOFT at crazy good prices.

-you’re being green! By purchasing used, you’re lightening your carbon-footprint and getting great clothes at the same time!

MY LAST BOX

I think this is my favorite box yet. I purchased 7 items (the workout leggings I ordered aren’t pictured) and they all came in perfectly! Oh, and if you couldn’t tell, I kind of love stripes.

top left: Gap
top right: Old Navy
bottom left: Old Navy
bottom right: J.Crew

NOW GET SHOPPING!

Blogging Checklist For 2015

December 30, 2014 | No Comments

The new year has almost arrived and I am pumped! I’m not sure what it is, but something about the number 2015 just sounds energized and fresh. I’ve heard and seen so much passion within the blogging community about making this year the best one yet, and I have no doubts that it will be. I’m ready for new beginnings, cleared thoughts, and endless adventures!

Of course, New Year’s time wouldn’t be complete without a goals post, would it? Instead of making a personal one though (because I’ve made millions of those), I wanted to make a list that every blogger could find useful. A list that’s packed with inspiring thoughts and challenging goals and resolutions that are sure to set your blog up for a fantastic and successful year. Whether one of your personal goals is to start a blog for the first time, or take your years-in-the-making blog to the next level, there is something on this list for you!

BLOGGING CHECKLIST

freshen up your design or consider redesigning it all together. It’s a challenge for sure, but new looks are fun!
find new ways to engage your readers and keep them coming back.
come up with a media template to use when designing your blog graphics. Decide on a couple colors and fonts, and try to stick with them when creating your images. It will make your blog look so much more professional and organized!
clean up your sidebar by centering your images, making them all the same width, and getting rid of sections you don’t need.
make a page for your new readers to get them up-to-date on the happenings of your blog and life. It’s like a step up from your “about” page where you can show off your best work!
organize your navigation bar to make it easy for readers to get around your blog.

– update all of your social media bios and profile pictures. If you haven’t used one in a while, now is the time to get going again!
set up a schedule for things like posts, tweets, and pins. It will keep you from over/under posting, and help you figure out what media outlets work best for your blog. The organization is always a plus!
update graphics like your “about me” image with more recent pictures of yourself. That alone can give your blog a new look!
set aside some time for yourself away from blogging every once in a while. You deserve it!
create a sponsorship routine that guarantees the best treatment for all of your sponsors. The best way to get more sponsors is to have your current ones talking about a great experience with you!
start making use of your resources. There are so many websites out there that are perfect for bloggers, like PicMonkey or Bitly. Let them make your life easier this year!
change up your working environment. If you’re starting to lose inspiration, move around a bit. Try a new space in the house, or head over to a local coffee shop every once in a while.
update your “about” page. New year new you, right?
make a list of post ideas. It’s super convenient for those days when nothing comes to mind, or when you’re just full of ideas that you don’t want to go to waste.

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