Interview a Blogger, Laura Gale | Blog Series

Hello Again!

Today's post is a little bonus Interview a Blogger post because there wasn't one yesterday so today's blogger is the lovely Laura Gale! Laura's blog is full to the brim of makeup and fashion along with some great advice and lifestyle posts! Let's get to know more about Laura and her blog!

1. Tell us something about yourself and your blog?

I'm a final year law student, and my blog was born in May 2015 as a result of me feeling constantly stressed out about uni and my career options. I was in desperate need of a creative outlet; blogging was the obvious answer for me, since I love to write and have been reading other people's blogs for yonks! 

2. How did you get into blogging? Did someone else inspire you?

Yes! I was totally inspired by Charlie (www.chrwrd.com). I had no idea she was a blogger until she updated her Twitter bio to include a link to her blog. Charlie and I went to the same college (way back when) and I thought it was so cool that I knew of somebody who was into blogging. I saw the Bloglovin' widget on her blog and signed up and claimed my own blog straight away, and from there I discovered so many of the blogs I know and love today, which provide me with a constant stream of inspiration!

3. What does blogging mean to you and why?

Blogging means a lot to me because it's something that's just for me. It sounds selfish, but I really enjoy having something kept so separate from my 'real' life, which consists of legal studies, work placements and twenty-five hours a week working in retail. I'm a total control freak, so an on-going solo project like my blog suits me to a T! I also love the good vibes amongst the blogging community. Everybody is so lovely and supportive... a bit like the drunk girls you meet in club toilets, except bloggers are genuinely that friendly the whole time, ha!

4. I personally have almost stopped blogging so, What keeps you motivated?

I imagine this will be controversial, but the thing that keeps me going is the (slow) stream of collaboration offers from brands. There's a popular misconception regarding bloggers, that we're all 'in it for the freebies,' but this couldn't be further from the truth. The 'freebies' are nice, don't get me wrong, but the reason I really look forward to those emails landing in my inbox is the immense sense of achievement that accompanies them. I still can't help but think 'they must have made a mistake, do they really want to work with me?!' I just light up when I realise: they really think that my blog and I are worthy!

5. Name some (one,two or three) of your favourite bloggers and tell us why they’re your favourite?

I love both Alina (Beauty With Charm) and Renata (Speaking Beauty UK). I've watched both their blogs and their skillsets develop; they're amazing bloggers, yet so humble and genuine! There are plenty of blogs I love, but I think the best bloggers are those who stay grounded, even when they reach new levels of success. 

6. What do you do when you’re not blogging?

When I'm not blogging, I'm usually studying or working. I'm also a box set junkie though, and I'm currently addicted to Prison Break and The Walking Dead. 

7. What are you most proud of when it comes to your blog?

I'd say I'm most proud of my blog design. I can't take much credit for it, since it was designed by the lovely Serena! I feel like it's what makes me stick out from the crowd a little, since there are so many monochrome blogs out there (not that there's anything wrong with monochrome, mind). 

8. Everyone has a favourite and a least favourite post, what are yours?

Do they?! I'm not too sure on mine! I haven't quite conquered the photography aspect of my blog yet, which is why I feel I don't yet have a post that I absolutely love. Ive just purchased my first ever DSLR though, so I'm working on it! I think my least favourites are all fashion related, as I feel like such an amateur writing them.

9. As I’m mainly a beauty blogger I feel like I have to ask at least one beauty question so: If you could only use one kind of beauty product what would it be and why?

I think it would have to be an eyebrow product. A good skincare regime will mean you can skip on the foundation, and I'm not too fussed about my lashes, but I really notice the difference when I go without my ABH dipbrow... I feel so self-conscious without my power brows! They just frame my face and make me look so much more put together!

10. What would you say to someone who aspires to become a blogger?

If you want to do it, do it! Don't think twice about what anyone else would say. I think the people who were sceptical when I told them I wanted to start a blog are the same people who are now envious of some of the opportunities it's brought me! Blogging is beneficial in so many ways: it's extremely therapeutic, it improves your skillset and it looks great on your CV! Go for it.

lalaldn.co.uk | Laura's Twitter | Laura's Instagram

A massive thank you to Laura for taking part, it's been great having you!

Come back next Saturday to see who the next blogger is.

Interview a Blogger, Louise Jones [insert here] | Blog Series

 Hello Again!

Apologies for there not being a 'Interview a Blogger' post last Saturday so to make up for it I have decided to post one today and one tomorrow! So today's blogger is Louise Jones and her blog is [insert here] - and it is dedicated to reviewing the best in bad seasonal movies! I'd also like to congratulate Louise on being a finalist in the UK Blog Awards! So let's get to know more about Louise and her blog! - 

1. Tell us something about yourself and your blog? 

An [insert here] for Christmas reviews the best- and the worst- of straight to TV movies. ABC Family, Hallmark, Lifetime: you name the channel, I'm bound to have seen at least ten of their films. It's not just the holiday season without a whole host of kinda creepy looking Santas, shabbily dressed elves, and child actors who look directly down the camera lens. Rated from 1 star (Ho) to 3 stars (Ho Ho Ho), this blog lets you know which are cheesy masterpieces and which movies who should leave unwatched on your TV library. But bad films are for life, not just for Christmas- that's why I've also reviewed a whole host of Easter, Valentine's, Halloween and Mother's Day films as well. That's why the title and colour scheme changes every now and then. There are turds of the golden screen at every turn- I just let you know which are polished and which stink. 

2. How did you get into blogging? Did someone else inspire you?

I really like watching stuff like JonTron and Red Letter Media videos on Youtube. They review really terrible stuff and just tear into that, and it kind of reminded me of watching bad Christmas films over the holidays during university. Then when I graduated I had all this free time and I knew all of these terrible seasonal movies inside out- so I thought I'd give it a shot. 

3. What does blogging mean to you and why?

Blogging means I have a platform to write and I get to cultivate my own writing style. I review for quite a lot of different publications, as well as doing a lot of writing for work, so the majority of the week I'm writing to a house style. When it comes to An [Insert Here] I can be at my most honest and funniest, and I try out a couple of new things here and there to see if they work. It's really good to get an idea of what I'm good at writing and what I like writing. I want to do this as a full-on career one day, and you've gotta start somewhere- so why not start on your own site?

4. I personally have almost stopped blogging so, What keeps you motivated?

For me, I just can't keep away. Because I review seasonal movies I get a bit of a "summer holiday", ie the period between Father's Day and Halloween, where I'm not reviewing- but during this time I'm always on the lookout for crap films. My friends and boyfriend know I do this so I get texts like "I've found a film called The 12 Dogs of Christmas 2" or "I saw a DVD called Pup Idol" and I'll add those to my list. Knowing that I'm becoming this Queen of Crap to my friends is motivation enough. Is that lame? Probably.

5. Name some (one,two or three) of your favourite bloggers and tell us why they’re your favourite?

I love Theatrefullstop, who are this brilliant theatre review site. They only started a couple of years ago and they're award-winning already- plus they offer listings and interviews on the side so it's a really good, comprehensive, one-stop shop kind of theatre blog

I'm also a big fan of York on a Fork- in a perfect world I'd be a food critic as well as reviewing bad films because I think those are two of my favourite things. It's a really nicely written blog, I just scroll through review after review. I'm not rich enough to eat at restaurants every day so it's like living vicariously through this lucky bugger who gets to go eat things and then have an important opinion about food.

6. What do you do when you’re not blogging?

I'm big on books. I'm like a weird book Luddite, because I really hate the feel of a Kindle in your hands as opposed to a weighty hardback. I got a whole load of books for Christmas and they've all been read now. Getting through my reading stash is how I unwind. I also enjoy comedy- watching, reviewing, writing or performing. I'm planning to go perform at the Edinburgh Fringe again this year- it's one of those things I've done for the past 4 years and now can't imagine not doing.

7. What are you most proud of when it comes to your blog?

Well it just got shortlisted in the UK Blog Awards 2016 so I'm pretty proud of that! I really like the fact that I know people come back to read more. I'll notice the same people coming back in my stats and that makes me really happy to know that if these people (very clever people who I admire for their taste in blogs) fancy a laugh, they can hit me up.

8. Everyone has a favourite and a least favourite post, what are yours?

I think my favourite blog post is this review of A Fairytale Christmas (or Christmas Belle), which I just remember being such a letdown of a film! It's a super cheesy adaptation of Beauty and the Beast and I really went to town denouncing all the nonsense that goes on in those 90 minutes.

I don't really have a least favourite blog post- if I had to choose I'd probably say my review of Christmas Gifts, just because it was such a boring film! I felt totally drained after watching it so I feel like I didn't get a chance to really go for it with explaining why it was bad. It was just terrible.

9. As I’m mainly a beauty blogger I feel like I have to ask at least one beauty question so: If you could only use one kind of beauty product what would it be and why?

I think it's a toss-up between my No. 7 concealer (I was one of those people who never got spots in high school but one or two have caught up with me now, boo) and my favourite Lancome lipgloss- it's the lazy woman's day to do that day-night transformation, and I am that lazy woman. It's simple whilst not looking like I just ran out of the house- which is the perfect crime because odds are I did just run out of the house.

10. What would you say to someone who aspires to become a blogger?

Sit down with a cup of tea and a notepad and figure out what's going to be unique about your blog. It sounds like really rote advice but it is so important- I've tried to do blogs in the past that have fizzled out because they just blended into the crowd so easily. That, and make sure you enjoy writing regularly. If you post often enough and you can sum up your blog in one sentence, you could go really far!

aseasonalmovieforchristmas.wordpress.com | [insert here] Twitter

Thank you so much to Louise for taking part - it's been great getting to know more about you and your blog!!

Come back tomorrow to see who the next blogger is!

Product of the week | Collaboration with Hannahhearts

Hello Again!!

It's that time of the month where Hannah from Hannahhearts and myself talk about our product of the week!! Be sure to check out Hannah's post, I really want to try out the foundation that she has been loving!!

My product of the week has been one of MAC's matte lipsticks in the shade Whirl! I actually bought this in a mini MAC haul at the start of the year and when I saw this shade I was a little terrified because I'm not a lipstick wearer and this is quite dark but honestly I have grown to love it! If you're looking for that 90's grunge, browny nude shade then look no further! As its a matte lipstick it lasts quite long on the lips which maybe makes you think it would be drying but it's actually really creamy and hydrating - I just love it!!

Here's a little photo of me wearing Whirl.

So if you're looking to try a new lipstick why don't you give Whirl, a whirl!!

(yeah I know, sorry, couldn't resist).

Thanks for reading my post about my product of the week, go check out Hannah's.

What's been your most loved product recently?

Let's have a chat about Feminism!!

Hello Again Everyone,

I have been wanting to voice my opinion on something but I've been holding back because I'm scared in case there is backlash because of it. But after a night of listening to Hilary Duff and chatting to Charlotte (who is very lovely by the way, check out her blog!!) I decided just to do it because like Charlotte said her blog is her space and mine is mine! 

So Feminism! That's what I want to talk about!

I have seen this as a very 'touchy' subject to speak about and I have found myself typing up tweets but then deleting them because I've seen how protective people are about this subject. It is spoken about on the Internet and on Twitter every single day and I just want to say right now that everyone is entitled and have the right to their own opinions - the world would be a very boring place if everyone thought the same thing!! Sometimes though, other people don't want to even listen to an opinion which is different from their own and that is really sad! I think it is seen as being really 'trendy' these days to call yourself a feminist and I think a main factor is the celebrities that are feminists - of course if Beyoncé says she's a feminist then hundreds of people will say they are too - that's just the generation we live in - It's the latest bandwagon! But what I have been seeing more and more recently  which is really getting my goat is the 'feminists' that are bringing down men. Now I am a woman, but I'm not a feminist. Yes I think genders should be treated equally, of course I do and yes, I know women aren't treated fairly and that is not right! But, why put men down and belittle them to make women be greater?! 

A lot of feminists say that men are sexist and I know there is a hell of a lot of sexist men out there (Christ I work in a warehouse where there's about 60 men and about 6 women) but there is also a lot of sexist women out there! Basically the point in this very rambling post (apologies) is let's be equal, let's cheer each other on! All men and women should encourage each other, and if you want to be a feminist then good on you, honestly, just don't hate on men while doing so. 

Again, in the words of Beyoncé, 'who run the world?' Girls can! Boys can! We can actually do it together.

Now I would love to hear your opinion on this, I can listen to all opinions, feminists are welcome! Please don't take this as a hate post against all Feminists because it's not, I think it's great that you've got some fight in you!