Bloggers Helping Bloggers

Meg of The Audacious Queen emailed me a while back with some details on something super fun, Bloggers Helping Bloggers (the name is even super fun, right?). So the internet is filled with negative thoughts, opinions, and bunches of haters. What the internet is truly lacking in is kind people willing to take the extra minute it takes to thoroughly examine someone's blog, and well, give all compliments about things they ABSOLUTELY love about their site. This was something Meg noticed, and wanted to see if we could focus on some positives.. and I think it's a wonderful idea! Here's some blogs that were originally participating in this little linkup, and my thoughts on them :)

The Audacious Queen

Meg is such a positive person, and I just love how that shines through in her writing and social media. You can just tell from reading how sweet and kind she must be, and you like automatically want to meet her in person. I've been reading her blog for almost as long as she's been blogging. I didn't really get a chance to connect with her until we were both partnered together as part of a blogger snail mail kind of thing through Instagram. She is just so so sweet, and beautiful too! I love her classic but still fun style. Her Instagram is BEAUTIFUL, I'm obsessed with her posts and she is definitely one of my biggest inspirations when it comes to my own account.

The Beautiful Little Fools

First off I absolutely, immediately, RIGHT OFF THE BAT caught the reference to Gatsby in her blog title. AND I LOVE IT! I love how Jenni is always writing about blogging or school related things. I'm a rising sophomore this year, and I know college shouldn't be too much of a focus yet.. but of course it is. I love reading Jenni's advice to others. She has a great voice in her writing that I just thoroughly enjoy reading. She also always has new and fun guest posts live on her blog. SO much fun to read!

The Fashion Newcomer

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Jamie's blog. She's just so smart! She's a real fashion blogger. Not one that shares her outfits. One that really blogs about fashion and I love it. She always has the most incredible ideas, and it just blows my mind honestly. Jamie's one of those bloggers that I would LOVE to meet at some point. I love her voice when she writes. She has such strong feelings about blogging and what it should be versus what it is typically viewed as and I love that. She's been one of my favorites for quite a while now. When I see The Fashion Newcomer in my inbox I stop everything to read her latest post. My favorite posts of her's are when she writes about the fashion industry and does big blogger collaborations.

Alkaline + Chrome

I'm somewhat of a new reader to Emma's blog.. but I love it! I'm just gonna start off by talking about her photos. They are absolutely INCREDIBLE! I love it when she goes to different events, because she is sure to share photos of everything. Her style is so unique, I absolutely love it. Her "Daily Babble" posts are definitely some of my favorites because similar to The Fashion Newcomer, many people don't share their thoughts on the fashion industry as they do about Lilly Pulitzer, Nordstrom sales, and their personal outfits. I enjoy reading Emma's blog for that reason.. I get to learn more about fashion!

Angelica Prendez

I've never read a blog with an author so passionate about her dancing as Angelica. You can tell from her face in her posts on dancing that she really loves what she does. When I first visited her blog, I thought it had been around for a year maybe more. When I scrolled along, I realized that her first post was only back in March! You can't tell that from the way she writes or her blog design or anything! So professional and easy to read. Her style is very different than mine which is probably another reason I enjoy reading so much. 

Empire Styles

Ever since I helped Nicole relaunch her blog, Empire Styles has been a weekly read for me. Nicole is just such a sweet person and that really shines through to me as I'm reading. I enjoy her content very much. Her unique style is fun and I enjoy following her across all social media. Even Polyvore! Her sets created on Polyvore are BEAUTIFUL and just her style is so mature and classic.. I love it. She's another one of those bloggers that I will definitely have to meet someday. I love it when a blogger's kind heart shines through on their social accounts and writing.. and you can tell from just reading a few posts that Nicole is a great person!

Running Alyssa

I don't read too many super specific niche blogs.. but I really like how Alyssa has a love for running, and that definitely comes across to her readers. I love how passionate she is. We're close if not the same age, so it's neat for me to hear and see her perspective, what she's interested in, and her style. She also shares some great tips for any track or just anyone who runs. Her running recaps are fun to read, and as are the rest of her more personal posts.

DEFINITELY go check out all the bloggers linked above. Thanks so much to Meg for hosting this, it was a lot of fun to go looking for all the things I love about each of these wonderful blogs! 

To My Non-Blogging Friends:

I've been blessed with some REALLY  great friends.. both through blogging and in real life. However.. there are certain things that are harder for my non blogging friends to understand. Like a lot of things actually. Scarlett, the genius that she is, came up with an AMAZING idea for a post.. Sadly I was a couple days late for my quote to get in the post, but I still definitely want to share this on my blog! So hey all my friends that don't blog... Listen up!

What I wish my non-blogging friends knew about blogging in general

-BLOGGING IS HARD: I can't just throw up a post. I can't just get pictures from Pinterest, and copy- paste them into a blank post, write a few words, and post. THAT'S NOT HOW BLOGGING WORKS.

-If I feature you on the blog: If you get mentioned or quoted in a post... It's a big deal. 

-GRAMMAR: I hate bad grammar, bad punctuation, and spelling issues!! When you're blessed with spell check and the power of the internet when constructing your sentences.. why do they suck? It matters, okay? Sentence structure and spelling MATTERS.

-Time: I put so much time into this little site I can't even begin to explain to you. I write, I take photos, I stay social, EVERYTHING! Blogging is my business basically. It's my brand, and it just so happens that I am the face of it. If I have to pass on a football game or soccer game or hanging out after school, trust me, I don't want to miss out on the fun. I just have to get a post up and ready for the next day and take care of my social accounts. 

-HTML: Not just for nerds. I freaking love HTML. Just thought you should know! 

What I wish my non-blogging friends knew about social media

-Maintaining an on-point Pinterest is tough: When friends see my Pinterest and realize I have over 3000 followers they automatically think I'm famous. I'm not. I just put HOURS into keeping my Pinterest as perfect as possible. I get so many comments on how beautiful my Pinterest is, and I'm slightly obsessed with keeping it on point. 

-Instagram: LET ME JUST SAY, If you bring a really cute container filled with fruit or something, you better wait for me to get good lighting and a good shot before you can eat it. If we're getting ice cream, let me take a picture of yours too. Don't ask questions. AND YES I ALWAYS HAVE TO EDIT MY PHOTOS. 

-Tweeting links: As my friends, you are basically obligated to click on any link I tweet out. It's like an unofficial unwritten rule. And don't judge me for saying #obsessed way too many times. It's a problem I know.

-Retweets: If I'm #obsessing over a particular brand one day on Twitter, and they RETWEET me.... BE HAPPY FOR ME!! IT'S THE ABSOLUTE GREATEST WHEN SOLE SOCIETY OR NORDSTROM RETWEETS YOU. 

-Keeping up a Facebook page: If you're not a blogger, the concept of why you need a Facebook page might me a little tough for you to understand. Even though I suck at keeping up with it, I still have to have it so don't judge too hard if I'm checking FB in class.

-Hashtags are insanely important- Even #obsessed or #inlove are still super important! And all those annoying tags for likes ACTUALLY HELP!

-Follower Numbers: I WORK MY BUTT OFF to get the number of followers on social media that I do. I don't just post a picture of ice cream and get 500 followers and 10000 likes. I WORK for my followers.

-Yes it is totally necessary for me to post 15 pictures in one day. Don't get all whatever with me about that! 

What I wish my non-blogging friends knew about life in general

-Grocery Shopping: I totally have to take photos of the pineapples, lemons, and limes in the grocery store. So don't comment on my pictures about it! Also, some of my flower pictures do come from the outdoors part of Walmart or the bouquets and BiLo.

-Trader Joe's is not just a grocery store, it's a lifestyle: YES I DO have to post a photo of everything in Trader Joe's. And I have to buy a plant EVERY SINGLE TIME I GO

-I'm a plant momma: I love plants, and I love having my little babies in my window. I water them, feed them, and sing to them (you know the carbon dioxide stuff). And of course succulents are one of my biggest obsessions. 

When we're shopping, I will take pictures of everything. Just letting you know. Oh, and if we get lunch? Please at least wear a classic gold watch. And we need to order croissants if they have them. And get dessert. 

-My blogging "friends" as you call them, are some of the most incredible people in this world. You wouldn't get it. And no watching a movie with you, is not the same AT ALL as watching a movie with Michaela.

-When I wear sweats or dress lazy... DO NOT TELL ME THAT'S NOT SOMETHING CLASSY CATHLEEN WOULD DO. It actually is totally something I would do because I was most likely up late blogging and not willing to put in the effort of getting completely dressed up this morning. 

Also, just wanted to let you guys know that I really, truly do appreciate all that y'all do for me. You really try your best to understand how important a new blog design is and taking a perfect photoshoot.. And I really love you for trying to understand!

So bloggers, what do you wish your non-blogging friends knew and understood about blogging?

CALLING ALL BLOGGERS

Hey Y'all,
Have y'all noticed that on the larger communities on Google Plus, there are so many posts that nobody even pays attention to your posts! I decided to start a smaller community where all posts can be seen, and read. It's called Bloggers With Class.  Do me a favor and become a member of this community! I think it is a fabulous opportunity to share your posts with bloggers just like you! So what are you waiting for? GO JOIN THIS COMMUNITY!!!
xx-
Cathleen

*BLOGGERS* Button Swap & How to

Hello fellow bloggers:)

I may be a little behind.. But I just figured out how to make a "Grab my button" thing! *insert applause here*

I used a code generator that worked very well! http://www.mycoolrealm.com/sandbox/gbgen/ 

Before I did that, I designed an image on Picmonkey. I saved it with the dimensions 175x200. Then I uploaded the image to photobucket. Where it says: Links to share this photo, you click Direct.. And then fill out your information in the generator!

My button and it's code is below. Feel free to put it in your sidebar.. And then email me, so that I can put you in my sidebar.. Well actually under my posts. That's where my "available space" is right now. The first 3 to put it in their sidebar will definitely have a spot on my blog. {They might not get up until after Easter..}

xx-

Cathleen

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