Stay, Stay, Stay

This post is going to be discreet for a number of reasons – a) I don’t want to offend anyone, b) I don’t have enough facts to write a reliable post and c) this post could be seen as controversial. The only reason I’m writing this is to raise awareness (both about cyberbullying and also about the fact that there are some truly beautiful people alive right now).

Instead of delivering you the story as I first planned to do, I’m going to scatter the clues and leave it up to you to do research and find out the subject of this post. It’s a strange way to write a post, I know, but I feel it’s the best thing to do.

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Clue One:

Words can break someone into a million pieces, but they can also put them back together. I hope that you can think before you speak and can use your own words for good.

People throw rocks at things that shine.

- Taylor Swift, Ours

Mothers Know Best

(I was going to ask you to check out or like this page but I thought that’d be cheeky of me, so I won’t… )

Courtesy of Pixiepot Designs

 

Happy Mothers day to all of you wonderful mothers!

I’m most lucky to have a wonderful mother by my side through thick and thin and would not only like to thank her but also pay my respects to those whose mother is absent.

I’m not really sure how to start this post, nor how to end it. In fact, I have no idea how I can get what I want to say into words.

In Memory and Make Memories (Live, Don’t Merely Exist)

(I apologise for the lack of posts lately, and for the breaking of my schedule. I haven’t an excuse, sorry!)

Life is precious.

This time last year I lost an acquaintance or, I’d even go as far to say, a friend. Let’s call him…Will*. This post is not only in memory** of him but I also want to talk to you about how important it is to make the most of your life as you never know when your time is up.

Will and I weren’t close, granted, but losing someone you know is always hard and I can only imagine how hard it has been for his closest friends and family.

The Liebster Award

Recently, the award season has ended (by this I mean the Oscars, BRITs, Grammy;s and so on) but for bloggers, the season is never-ending. The amazing Ritu, over at Beyond Beauty Tips, was kind enough to think of me when nominating fellows for this award. Informative, humorous and inspirational, Ritu’s blog is well worth checking out.

The Liebster Award is a symbol of recognition among fellow bloggers and is a fun way to promote new blogs of a good standard with less than 200 followers.

Nominees are asked to:

1.  Post eleven facts about themselves.

2.  Answer the eleven questions they have been asked.

3.  Nominate eleven other blogs and ask them eleven questions of their own.

4.  Display the Liebster Award logo.

Shane Koyczan’s “To This Day” (Video) – On Bullying

I apologise that there was no writing prompt posted this week, however I have got something else I want to write about.

Bullying.

I suppose a lot of people must have seen this video but should this not be the case, it will be embedded at the bottom of this post. I really recommend watching it: if it doesn’t bring you close to tears, you’ll be in floods of tears.

Most often I’d do a huge post about this as bullying is a serious matter. Nevertheless, in this case I hope for the post to be short and sweet as I believe the video says all I would need to say.

To This Day is a stunning project based on a spoken word poem that tells the painful truths of bullying, accompanied with beautiful visuals.

“Our lives will always continue to be a balancing act that has less to do with pain and more to do with beauty.” – Shane Koyczan

If you have ever been affected by bullying or know someone that has, please watch and share this video (and/or share the post), thank you.

I’d also ask of you to check out this old post aimed to boost self-esteem. Thank you, have a wonderful day and keep your head held high!

Two Tunes This Tuesday

Did you like my alliteration in the title?

Anyway, here are two of my favourite songs this week. Enjoy and as always, remember to comment with some of your favourite things to listen to as of late. I love discovering new music as much as I love learning about my wonderful readers!

Have a great day, folks!

What My Readers Value Most

If you’ve been following me for a while, you might remember this post. Well, it’s about time I submitted my findings. Before I do so, I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who co-operated, it’s been extremely insightful.

I asked my readers a series of questions that I hoped would challenge their perception on life. I hoped that by having my readers answer these questions it would open their eyes to their faults and indeed stop taking the people and things around them for granted.

Celebrating One Year in the Blogosphere

Occasionally it feels as if I’ve been blogging forever, other times it shocks me that it’s been a year already. *throws confetti*

But it’s true, one year ago today I started this little blog in hope that it would be a place to share my knowledge with the blogosphere and learn something along the way. It’s become much more than that and I’ve learnt much more than I could have ever expected. It’s become my creative outlet.

For the past few months I’ve been thinking racking my brain for ways to celebrate this anniversary, ways to make an impact. I’ve realised that I don’t need to go all out and blow the minds of my readers because I have readers here who have never asked of that before and have stayed even though I’m not extravagant and don’t pump out competitions every other week.

What I’m trying to say is that I have some loyal and wonderful readers and this blogging journey would not have been possible without you. I stumbled into the blogosphere a year today and blinded by the light, you helped me make my way. In short, thank you. Thank you so much for following my blogging experience and I hope that we can continue to journey through the blogosphere as the years go on.

Did I mention that I love my readers?

Embarrassing Stories + PS: It’s February

Smile, it’s Friday!

It’s Friday yet again and if you don’t know how much I love Friday’s, I recommend reading this post and this one too!

Today I want to talk about embarrassing stories (my friend gave me the idea and I love it!). Specifically, embarrassing child-hood stories (although I’d love to hear some others, too). I would really like you guys to leave me a comment with some embarrassing stories! If you don’t know what type of thing to write, I’ll give you some general examples:

Writing Prompt #5

This is Writing Prompt #5:
Write a story, script or poem about these two, young tourists. Who are they? Where are they? How did they meet? What is their story? What happens to them?

You may type your reply to the prompt in a comment on this post, or write it in a post (or some other online place that can host writing (such as deviantART)) and link back to this prompt. Good luck, I’m looking forward to seeing what you create.

When Google Translate Met Taylor Swift

This is a very different version of Tuesday Tunes today, and for that I apologise. Nevertheless, this ought to be an entertaining post.

Why, you ask?

A while back I heard this song and I thought it was genius. Whoever thought up the idea of doing that to one of 2012′s biggest songs is an amazing individual. So, prizes for the person who guesses what this post is about!*

What’s In a Title?

When writing anything (whether it be a post, a novel, a chapter or a new blog) I often find the title the most difficult thing to consider.

I don’t have a particular technique to writing my posts. Some days I write my title first to give me the inspiration to write the content, other times I name the post after I’ve written the content.

Whatever is easier for me that day is what I do, not whatever is most effective.

I find that the perfect title, and indeed the one that draws the most readers in, is either though-provoking, witty, curious or/and short. I might know a little about what makes a good title but I sure don’t know how to write one.

Does the title even matter?

Sponsors, Design and Dropbox

This post is really a multi-purpose, admin type post. By that I mean it doesn’t have much substance: it’s not particularly witty (though stick with me ), it’s not thought-provoking (unless you consider ‘Do I, or don’t I?’ sort of questions thought-provocative….).

Nevertheless, I’d be honoured if you read it.

From the title and the somewhat off-putting introduction you’ll probably be wondering ‘Where is she headed?’. In which case, don’t worry I’m not going completely bonkers.

In fact, I want to speak of three things, quite like the title suggests: sponsors, design and Dropbox.

Dropbox

Many of you guys will know what Dropbox is but, for those of you who don’t, let me give you a short introduction (by that I mean the text from the Dropbox website):

Dropbox is a free service that lets you bring your photos, docs, and videos anywhere and share them easily. Never email yourself a file again!

- Dropbox website

Well, I’ve recently started using Dropbox and I have to say, I’m glad I have.

As a writer, it’s great for my to edit my current novel on my laptop, iPod touch, phone and iPad meaning I don’t have to print it out if I want to add/edit it when I don’t have my laptop.

As a graphic designer, I can test my wallpaper designs ect. on mobile-platforms. And finally, as a web developer Dropbox makes it easy for me to test my websites on different devices.

I just thought I’d let you know you should totally get it.

Things (I Hope) Will Make You Smile

So it’s yet again another wonderful Friday. You have survived another work week and to celebrate this I have complied a ton of things I hope will make you smile. For more Friday fun, click here.

Writing Prompt #4

This is Writing Prompt #4:
Your story begins in the place in the picture. Why are you here? How did you get here? Who are you with? Describe. Explain. Tell the story.

You may type your reply to the prompt in a comment on this post, or write it in a post (or some other online place that can host writing (such as deviantART)) and link back to this prompt. Good luck, I’m looking forward to seeing what you create.

Ride of Your Life

This weeks favourite tunes: a collection of old and new hits that I’m currently in love with. Please enjoy and, as always, comment with your current favourite tracks. I’d love to hear of them and discover some new, great music.

Community Pool

Yesterday I participated in The Daily Post’s Community Pool and I’m not going to lie, I didn’t expect much. I knew how many comments would sure to be there and I saw no reason for anyone to give me feedback on my blog. After all, my comment hardly stood out from the rest.

Needless to say, I most certainly underestimated the power of the WordPress community.

Congratulations, it’s Friday!

It’s Friday, ladies and gentlemen, it’s Friday! Congratulations, you’ve made it through another work week!*

To leave you on an up, here are a couple of funny photos!

Writing Prompt #3

This is Writing Prompt #3:
Your story ends in the street in the picture. How did you get here? Are you alone? What are you doing here? Who are you? Where is this place? Describe. Explain. Tell the story.

You may type your reply to the prompt in a comment on this post, or write it in a post (or some other online place that can host writing (such as deviantART)) and link back to this prompt. Good luck, I’m looking forward to seeing what you create.

Loverboy

This weeks favourite tunes: a collection of old and new hits that I’m currently in love with. Please enjoy and, as always, comment with your current favourite tracks. I’d love to hear of them and discover some new, great music.