Lifestyle

5 Things You Need To Know Before Starting A Blog

October 28, 2019 itsamandaburnett 25 Comments

Starting a blog is going to be a process and there is a lot to learn. Before starting a blog, there are a few things that you definitely should know and consider. This post is going to help you through 5 main areas of the planning phase of starting a blog.

There are certain things I wish I understood better before launching my own blog about two years ago. I pretty much dove right into it blindly and I want to make sure you don’t have to do the same. I’ve made many mistakes along the way and I now have more wisdom to share and guide you along your journey!

What’s Your Niche?

You may hear this a lot when it comes to blogging but the first thing you should think about is your niche. What’s a niche? It’s a funny-sounding word for your blog topic!

The question you should ask yourself is, “what do I want to blog about?” Let me give you a list of ideas.

Beauty
Fashion
Food
Parenting
Student life
Lifestyle (A little bit of everything)

When I was thinking about my own niche I was a little overwhelmed because there are just so many topics you could choose to write about, right? Let me give you this piece of advice, blog what you’re passionate about. Your blog should be based on something or multiple things you could write about all day and not get bored. This ensures that you are less likely to give up on it!

Creating Your Domain

The next important thing you’re going to need to think about is your domain name. A domain name is your blog’s identity so it’s something you’re going want to think carefully about. It shouldn’t be something you can just whip up in a few seconds because there are multiple factors to consider.

You’ll want your domain to be simple and rememberable. You want people to hear about your website and be able to easily find it when they search for it. So don’t get too creative with spelling because it’s likely they’ll misspell it and have a hard time being able to find you.

My domain name is literally just my name because I want my name to be my brand. But if you were to blog only about beauty, your domain could be “beauty with _____.com” for example.

Free or Paid Platform?

The next thing you will need to consider when starting your blog is if you want to blog on a free or paid platform.

Free

If you’re totally new to blogging, you may want to start out on a free blogging platform to find your footing. I personally started on wordpress.com and highly recommend it! The whole platform is very easy to navigate and use. They even have an awesome “reader” section so other bloggers who use WordPress can find your posts and follow you on the platform. It’s a great way to gain an audience when you’re still a newbie!

Although, one thing I encourage you not to do is put money towards their “upgrades” if you ever realize you want more for your blog. I spent over $100 on a yearly upgrade and was still pretty limited! If you ever realize you want to take complete control over your blog, read on.

Paid

If you want 100% control over personalization and monetization to finally make some money on what you love doing, you’ll want to self-host.

What do I mean by 100% control?

Ability to upload plugins
You can monetize with Google Adsense
You can download themes
Completely customizable to your liking
Your site is 100% yours

When I realized that was the route I wanted to go, I wanted to stay with WordPress because it was a platform I trusted. Although, I learned that you still need to find a web hosting platform for wordpress.org.

The hosting platform that I use is Siteground and they’re amazing! They made switching from wordpress.com to wordpress.org so easy and I’ve received great support. Their StartUp plan is only $3.95/month! That’s well under $100. My blog is also very fast and responsive, and that’s what you want when searching for a hosting platform. I highly recommend them.

Branding

Branding your blog can be so much fun if you let it be. You want to choose your main colors, pick your fonts, and create your logo! I’m going to let you in on a little secret though, I’ve rebranded twice now so it’s okay if you change your mind down the road. Don’t stress it too much.

Colors

What colors/tones speak to you? While you want to make your blog visually appealing to your viewers, you want to make it something you love too because you’ll be looking at it every day!

When I first started my blog, my brand colors were dark and light purple. Although, I’m now really into light and pastel colors. My brand colors are now light pink and gold.

To further understand and discover different color schemes, Canva has a post listing 50 color schemes from different websites!

Fonts

There are thousands of different font styles out there so the only way to figure out which ones you would like on your blog is to play around with them! I quickly realized that I really like fancy fonts and that is what I like including in all of my blog banners and social media posts.

Logo

Now it’s time to start creating your logo. A logo is just a graphic that resembles your blog. When somebody sees your logo, they’ll think of you. For example, when you think of Nike, you think of the checkmark right? I know a lot of people hire people to create their logo but if you’re on a budget and want to do it yourself, Canva is a great tool to use. They even have many free logo templates ready to use!

Where to Build Your Audience

Even if it’s your blog’s first day of being live, you need to go out there and start building your audience. Social media is a huge reason for my growing success today. So let me give you a few ideas of where to look for your audience!

Facebook. Facebook has many blogging groups you can join that are filled with other bloggers just like you. The groups are there to help build relationships, ask and answer questions, and share your blog posts!
Twitter. Twitter is probably my favorite social media platform right now. The blogger community on Twitter is not only huge as well but they’re so helpful and kind. There are hundreds of pages dedicated to sharing your blog posts!
Pinterest. Pinterest is a visual search engine. Many bloggers claim that most of their audience comes from Pinterest! All you have to do is create a pin for your blog post, create a catchy title and description, then link your blog post. 250 million people are on Pinterest so it’s more than likely you’ll get your blog post to be seen! If you want to schedule your Pinterest pins, I highly recommend using Tailwind.

Like it? Pin it!

Before starting a blog, I highly recommend you take these 5 tips into consideration as they are vital to understand before leaping into the blogging world. As these are only 5 tips, there are many more tools and guides that I am working on to help you through your blogging journey so stay tuned!

Already created a website but stuck on your first blog post? Check out my blog post that gives you 7 tools you need to create a successful blog post!

I hope this post was helpful. If you have any questions or topics you’d wish to further understand, leave me a comment down below so I can answer and/or create another post on it!

Motivational Quotes To Get You Through The Day

October 14, 2019 itsamandaburnett 28 Comments

Whenever I’m having a really rough day or I’m feeling extremely uninspired, I turn to motivational quotes. There’s something about reading them that really sparks something in me to get up and continue on. Over the years, I’ve found some quotes that I absolutely love and I feel like these can shine a little bit of light on any gloomy day.

I know what it’s like to have such a bad day and not know how to get that spark of motivation back. It can seem to suck the life out of you. By sharing these quotes, I hope to help anybody who is having a hard day to get that spark back. So if you’re searching for a little bit of motivation for yourself or you’re just interested in reading these quotes, then here are 15 motivational quotes to get you through your day!

quote

15 Motivation Quotes

“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt
“The way to get started is to stop talking and begin doing.” – Walt Disney
“The people who are crazy enough to think they change the world, are the ones who do.” – Steve Jobs
“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” – Albert Einstein
“Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.” – George Addair
“Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it.” – Charles Swindoll
“When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” – Henry Ford
“It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” – Vince Lombardi
“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” – Jim Ryun
“You might have to fight a battle more than once to win it.” – Margaret Thatcher
“All progress takes place outside the comfort zone.” – Michael John Bobak
“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” – Winston Churchill
“If you are working on something that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.” – Steve Jobs
“Challenges are what makes life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” – Joshua J. Marine

Did any of these quotes inspire you? Honestly, I had to choose one quote that really stands out to me right now, it would be #11 because I have the hardest time stepping out of my comfort zone. It’s scary. However, I also know that I will not accomplish much if I stay in my little safe bubble. If you have a favorite quote that’s not on my list and you’d like to share it then please do! Let’s share the positive vibes.

Like this post? Pin it!

Need More Inspiration?

If you’re looking for more inspiration, please check out my Positive Affirmations blog post. It even has a free printable you can look at any time you need it!

Thank you so much for reading!

Fight Seasonal Depression With These 6 Tips

October 11, 2019 itsamandaburnett 30 Comments

Fight Seasonal Depression blog post cover

Seasonal depression affects many including myself.

In Washington, I believe we’re experiencing our coldest October in a really long time. News articles are saying we’re about to experience the coldest winter in years. This naturally upsets me because I’m not the biggest fan of cold weather. Especially when it’s below 50 degrees. I am also somebody who suffers from seasonal depression. Knowing that many others suffer from the same thing, I’m determined to provide some tips to help!

*This post contains affiliate links which means if you purchase anything from the links, I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you*

Make a Cozy Environment

A few of the things that I love during the cold and dark months are candles, fluffy blankets, fuzzy socks, and buying some cute home decor. Lighting some candles and hanging up some string lights is just so relaxing to me. It definitely creates a cozy environment. We find ourselves indoors most of the time when it’s rainy and cold outside so I think it’s important to make your indoor environment as relaxing and cozy as possible.

One of my favorite candle brands right now is Chesapeake Bay and they have the best candles for relaxation! I highly recommend their “Balance and Harmony” candle.

Stay Active

Even if it’s cold outside, try to find time to go for a walk. Fresh air is always a good idea and you’d be surprised how refreshed you’ll feel afterward. Also, stay consistent with working out! It’s so easy for seasonal depression to consume you and you’ll quickly lose any motivation to workout so you need to stay on top of it. A great thing about keeping up with your workouts is you can stay active at home. So no more, “I can’t make it to the gym today.”

One of my favorite products to use at home is the Simply Fit Board for abs, legs, and core. This is an “As Seen on TV” product but it actually works and its pretty fun. Especially because you can watch tv in the comfort of your home at the same time.

I also have a mini-trampoline for cardio. I have a small studio apartment and it totally works without taking up a lot of space. For this, I made a fun cardio playlist on Spotify that I put on Shuffle for my workout. It’s small but powerful!

Make Goals & Plan

This tip I’m going to stress the most. It’s no secret that seasonal depression makes you feel uninspired and lazy. Take back that control and invest in a planner. My tip is on every Sunday, take time to write down everything that needs to get done that week. This can be bills that need to be paid, your work hours, errands, and appointments. Not only will you be more structured that week but you’ll get a sense of motivation to get it done!

Ever since purchasing my Erin Condren LifePlanner, my life has honestly been so much more organized and I’ve been accomplishing so much more in my life. Plus they’re so cute so why not invest in one? If you’d like an inside look at mine, here’s a blog post all about it!

Make Healthy Choices

I’m a person that tends to get sick a lot during winter but that can be prevented.

Drink at least 6 glasses of water daily
Make healthy meals (Pinterest has many recipes!)
Get enough sleep
Keep that workout routine going
Take your vitamins! (See below)

One Vitamin You Need

I think it’s a no brainer when I say we all need to take our vitamins because we should be doing that 365 days a year, right? But there’s one vitamin that I don’t believe we think about, especially in the winter. Vitamin D.

Did you know that most people are Vitamin D deficient? Our main and biggest source of Vitamin D is from the sunshine. Vitamin D helps keep our bones strong, teeth healthy and helps us from getting sick. But if during the winter months, we’re hardly seeing or getting enough sun, chances are we’re not getting enough of this important vitamin. You may say, “Oh but I drink milk” but milk simply doesn’t provide enough of that vitamin that we need. Especially if you’re lactose intolerant!

You can buy Vitamin D3 supplements at the store to make sure you’re getting a good source of Vitamin D every day!

Therapy Light

Saving the best tip for last! Some days are just so dark and no matter what tips I give you, you just want the sun. Well, I can’t ask the sun to come out but I can recommend a therapy light that gives your body the sensation of real sunshine! It puts out 10,000 lux and it’s UV free. Doctors all over have been recommending Therapy Lights for people with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)

Some benefits of this therapy light are:

Promotes better sleep/wake patterns
Improves your mood
Increase your energy and motivation
Helps you stay focused!

Let’s Have A Happier Winter!

Those are my 6 tips to combat Seasonal Depression! I can’t provide miracles but I’m hoping some of these tips can help you! I’m personally taking up all of them (buying that therapy light this week!) because this winter, I don’t want the seasonal blues to get me.

Let me know if you do any of these tips or plan to!

Thank you so much for reading. ♥

20 Fall Tag Questions

October 7, 2019 itsamandaburnett 11 Comments

If you don’t do a fall tag in fall, is it even really fall?

This week, I was going through Blogtober posts and even though I’m not participating this year, I was brainstorming a bunch of fall blog posts I could come up with. Obviously, I’ve done Fall Tag’s before but this time I wanted to create my own! So I came up with 20 fall-related questions. I’ll share my answers but then I want you to post this on your blog with your own answers! Fun right?

My answers:

What is your favorite fall drink? Obviously, I’m tempted to say coffee because coffee is such an important thing in my life regardless BUT my favorite fall drink would have to be hot chocolate.
What’s one thing you love about fall? I love the coziness of fall! Candles, sweaters, and hot chocolate. It’s seriously the best.
What’s one thing you don’t like about fall? I’m not a fan of the colder weather and it’s supposed to be the coldest Washington has experienced in a while.
Are you a pumpkin spice fan? I wouldn’t say that I’m obsessed but I do like to enjoy a pumpkin spiced latte occasionally.
What’s your favorite fall scented candle? Right now, it’s Cinnamon Apple.
Where do you buy your fall candles? Bath & Body Works and Target!
What’s your go-to fall beauty product? Red lipstick.
Your favorite fall accessory? Beanies!
What’s your typical fall outfit look like? You can find me in skinny jeans, an oversized sweater, a beanie, and comfy boots.
Apple pie or pumpkin pie? As much as I love apple pie, I have to say pumpkin pie. With lots of whipped cream!
What’s your favorite Halloween/scary movie? This one is easy. A Nightmare Before Christmas.
Do you have a fall tradition? I always try a new dessert recipe so I can bring it to Thanksgiving.
What’s your favorite fall food? All comfort food! Soups, mashed potatoes, pasta dishes, etc.
What are your plans for Halloween? I currently don’t have any plans besides handing out candy. Where are the parties at?
Do you plan on dressing up for Halloween? I don’t think I will be, but I do want to create a fun Halloween makeup look! Keep an eye out on my Insta to see what I end up creating.
What’s one thing you’re thankful for? I’m thankful that my family & I are all doing well and are healthy.
Halloween or Thanksgiving? Thanksgiving.
Favorite Thanksgiving food? Turkey & stuffing!
Have you ever participated in Friendsgiving? No, but I would love to host one once I’m in a new apartment!
Have you already taken fall photos? Post one here!

My fall photo. Holding up a bouquet of leaves.

Blank Questions For You! (Copy & Paste)

What is your favorite fall drink?
What’s one thing you love about fall?
What’s one thing you don’t like about fall?
Are you a pumpkin spice fan?
What’s your favorite fall scented candle?
Where do you buy your fall candles?
What’s your go-to fall beauty product?
Your favorite fall accessory?
What’s your typical fall outfit look like?
Apple pie or pumpkin pie?
What’s your favorite Halloween/scary movie?
Do you have a fall tradition?
What’s your favorite fall food?
What are your plans for Halloween?
Do you plan on dressing up for Halloween?
What’s one thing your thankful for?
Halloween or Thanksgiving?
Favorite Thanksgiving food?
Have you ever participated in Friendsgiving?
Have you already taken fall photos?

Tag, You’re It!

Its A Twinderful Life

Sunset Desires

I hope you enjoyed this fun fall tag! Feel free to use this on your own blog even if you weren’t tagged. I only ask that you please include a link back to my blog in your intro and then tag 5 other bloggers to keep this tag going!