10 Things My Fellow Bloggers (and YouTubers) Have Taught Me

Here in the blogging community we are very lucky because, on the whole, we support each other.  Yes there is negativity and cat fighting going on out there in the nethersphere we call the internet but that's just life isn't it? I've been lucky enough to learn so great and valuable lessons along the way from bloggers who do know me and those who don't even know I exist.  Here I am going to list for you the ten top lessons I have either been given by bloggers or that I have read as advice on their blogs.

1. Editing is your friend.Some may say that this makes it all fake, but could you honestly look me in the eye and say you'd rather see an unedited photo that is dark and slightly fuzzy or a video with a million stops, starts, and dance breaks? I didn't think so.  Editing makes you look put together and professional.  I just got into editing my photos so I'm still learning so it's definitely a learning curve. 

2. Network, Network, Network! This is probably the biggest piece of advice I've learned in my years of social media and just being an actor in general. Get business cards made or make them yourself to hand them out to anyone and everyone so that you can get your name out there about your work.  Networking is how people get jobs and how people succeed, it takes time though and can be tough but is worth it in the end. 

3. Be yourself and the rest will fall in line. Don't try to be anyone else but yourself because inevitably it will be seen through and you will loose more people than you win.  While there will always be those trolls and haters out there who dislike people no matter what, there will also be a group of people who will like you for who you are.

4. Have a welcoming environment to work in. So I'm not the best one at this but having a welcoming environment really helps you relax your way into your work.  I've just recently added a plant to my desk and it really brightens my mood when I work.

5. Invest in your craft. This was a hard one for me to do because I thought what I had was good enough I've learned quickly within the year that it wasn't and that I truly had to invest not only my money but my time into my social media if I wanted to get noticed.  So invest in editing software, sign up for PicMonkey, invest in backgrounds, get a logo made. Do what it takes for how far you want to go.

6. Always have a notebook/notepad and camera at the ready. You never know what you're going to see or hear or read that might inspire you, so be on your toes and be ready!

7. Your creativity may not be that of others but it is still creative. Creative is creative, no matter what.  Don't compare your genius to someone else's genius or else you'll just be miserable.  Just enjoy the creative process and let those creative juices flow.

8. Have a good support system. A good support system is invaluable. They are the ones who are there for you when it seems like the world is against you: you're getting hate, your editing software won't work, etc.

9. Have a running list of post and video ideas, no matter how silly they may seem at the time. Every single idea I have for my blog or youtube channel or any social media, I immediately write it down even if I have no idea how to do it or if it sounds completely idiotic. Some of my best ideas have come really late at night or in my sleep, so be sure to keep a notepad in your night stand.

10.  Remember to take time for yourself, step away from the camera and blog for a bit. If you don't step back every once in awhile, you're likely to get bogged down with no ideas and no passion and no drive to do any of it. I experienced that earlier this year, which is why my blog went on hiatus from December to March, but I'm back now!

Here are some of my blogging inspirations, in case you would like to check them out!

ViviannaDoesMakeup

Amelia Liana

Lily Pebbles

Estee Lalonde

My Other Social Media:

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Life Update- October 2015

Hello all, long time no type! I hope you all have be doing well.  I don't usually do 'Life Update' type posts but I figured since I've been gone for such a long while, or so it feels like to me, I would do one so you know that I am not MIA or anything like that.  As many of you who follow me on my YouTube Channel, linked here, you know that I had been working on two shows at once.  The first show, Lost in Yonkers where I was the Prop master, sound designer, and the hair and makeup artist, just closed this past weekend.  It was such a great show to work on, albeit a bit trying with the voice overs.  Closing day, the cast was very sweet and presented us with a bouquet of flowers presented by the actor who played Louie.  To my mom and I especially, this meant a lot.

How Being a Blogger has Changed Me

Hello my stars, long time- no post! I'm really sorry about that, but working on two different shows really makes life a bit hectic.  While I will work on getting out the posts that I had planned for earlier  in the week of October 27, I wanted to start out with the one I was supposed to do on Sunday: How Being a Blogger has Changed Me.  I saw this post a while back on another bloggers site and I decided that I would like to do something like it, too. So here I am and here is my story.

Why Do I Blog?

I've gotten quite a few questions lately as to why do I blog? I get no monetary gain from it, so why do I bother doing it? Well, my dear friends, read on and I shall tell you why!

Buy and Try: Why I Blog

I noticed a few weeks back that beauty bloggers were doing posts about why they blogged and, more importantly, why they would buy makeup just to try it.  So I figured, why not, let's give this post a shot.  So this is me, giving this post a shot.

Birchbox Vs. Ipsy Bag April 2015

I have been getting Birchbox for the past two years but recently I decided I would like to try the Ipsy Bag and now, inspired by eleventhgorgeous, I'm going to do a Birchbox vs. Ipsy match! Keep reading to see my thoughts on the products and who wins!

 In my Ipsy Bag (pictured above) is:
1. Hey Honey Good Morning - Honey Silk Facial Serum
2. Hikari Cosmetics- Blush in Tango
3. the Balm cosmetics- Nude Dude eyeshadow single in Fit ( a shimmery copper)
4. Starlooks- Satin Finish lip gloss in Cuddle
5. Jor'el Parker- Femina Perfume with notes such as  Meyer Lemon, White Grapefruit, Satsuma Mandarin, Summer Forsythia, Pink Plumeria, Wild Verbena, Tahitian Vanilla, Sensual Musk.
Response: I was so very pleased with this bag, especially since it was my first! A full size blush, a ROLLERBALL perfume sample, a High End (or what I consider high end) shadow sample, a sample lipgloss larger than my finger nail, and an awesome (review coming soon) serum for during the day.  This was such an amazing thing to receive in the mail, and I am so so so glad I signed up.  If you want to sign up and try Ipsy, click this link and sign up! Click this and sign up today!!!

1. Number 4 Hydrating Shampoo
2. Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator
3. Whish Shaving Cream (not pictured)
4. Harvey Prince Hello Liquid Loofa
5. Jelly Pong Pong GLOW GETTER highlighter.
Response: I really wasn't pleased when I opened my box and saw the Whish shaving cream, I've gotten it so many times in my box and I absolutely hate the brand.  I don't know what it is about it exactly, I just really don't like it- so I gave it to my dad.  I am excited though, to try the other things. Especially the Harvey Prince face wash and the Jelloy Pong Pong highlighter.  I love Harvey Prince and you guys know I love my highlighters.  I finally have a travel sized shampoo to go with my travel size conditioner in my travel bag and the face rejuvinator I'll have to be careful about because my skin is quite sensitive now.  Big bonus though, no foil packets from Birchbox, yay!!!
All in all, I think Ipsy won hands down because the products were nice and they were very generouns trial sizes instead of foil packets or itty bitty lip glosses the size of my finger tip (yes I'm looking at you Birchbox)  I'm very pleased with my bag and shall continue my subscription.  As for Birchbox, I may not renew it when the time comes. Sorry. 
Do you get these boxes/bags? Which do you prefer and what did you get this month? XOXO

How to do the Ten Minute Face (Video)

Hey guys! I'm back with another video for you from my YouTube channel (you should go and subscribe, just sayin' :D) Now that we're in the day and age where everything is go, go, go, who has time in the morning to do a full 30 minute makeup application? I certainly don't also, I'm not a morning person (sometimes) and getting up and then putting on a full face of makeup seems daunting.  So I came up with this idea of how to pare down your full face to a ten minute version.  It looks just as nice and polished but it's quick and easy and uses as few products as possible.  This is my first tutorial so I hope that it's not too horrendous. Enjoy and if you like what you see, go to my YouTube page to subscribe for more videos! XOXOXO

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Hard Candy CC Cream Review

About three months ago, I had the daunting task of trying to find a BB or CC cream that would match my skin tone, which is hard due to how pale I am.  Well, I came across this guy made buy Hard Candy (available only at Walmart). I was so excited when it matched my skin nicely and it had a light to medium coverage as well as having an SPF.  What really disappointed me about this was about two months after I got it, it started to separate but was able to be fixed by shaking it.  Now it's like no amount of shaking will mix it back together well and I'm really disappointed because I really liked this cream. Have any of you tried this cream before? Did you have the same problem or was your experience different? XOXO

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The Procrastinating Beauty Blogger Tag

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     1.  Name a beauty regime that you rarely do? Detox

2 2. Is washing your make-up brushes something that you do regularly? Yes

   3. How long will you last with chipped nail polish? Forever, well not forever, but for a good amount of time.

4 4.  How long will you put off buying/replacing a beauty product, even if you need it? It truly depends on how often I use said product in my every day life.  My matte powder it would be replaced immediately but a black eyeliner? I have a few of those, so I'd be fine.

5 5. What is your worst beauty habit? Clearing up zits (eww)

6 6. Name something non-beauty related that you put off doing all the time? Cleaning my room

7 7. When going out somewhere, do you leave getting ready to the last minute? No way!

8 8. Can you commit to spending bans? Yes, I actually did one earlier this year.

9 9. How organized is your make-up and nail polish collections? My makeup is stored in muji-esque style compartments and my nail polish is stored in a box.

  What are some of your answers to these questions? XOXO