Twenty Something Plus

April 21, 2015

Using Photos and Screenshots Effectively as You Blog

When your boss is doing something as awesome as mine is, it only makes sense to want to be a part of it. So, when Ponn Sabra shared that Blogger Babes was holding a blog tour and I’d have the chance for her to guest post on Twenty Something Plus, I wanted in…

This post is a part of a month-long Blogger Babes blog tour which began here. To read this post in-context, we recommend starting at the beginning–then hop along with us for the full journey.

While the of blogging topic is rarely touched upon on this blog, I’d like to share a little story with you, how I think it’s relevant today:

I met Bethany at one of the Blogger Babes CT meetups 2 months ago. I immediately noticed an ambitious beauty and lifestyle blogger with a ton of potential. It was because of this potential and her follow-up (great networking skills are critical in the field of blogging), that I asked her if she wanted to work on a little Blogger Babes (BB) project.

That little project eventually turned into a position working for both brands: Blogger Babes and The Ambitionista (my co-founder, Heidi’s fashion blog). My point here is: if you have a dream of catapulting your hobby blogging to the next level, then follow Bethany’s lead

(1) show up and network with like-minded bloggers,

(2) practice good follow-up skills,

(3) offer to intern, and show your skills and personality off: be trainable, personable, determined and professional, and

(4) grow and get paid while you’re learning.

I know the lessons Bethany is gaining is unlike her startup blogging peers, because we’re teaching her how to achieve multiple streams of revenue while actively building publicity and awareness to the core brand: our blogs.

No matter what Heidi and I do, our blogs are our brands, and we must constantly write posts as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Beauty Blogs are Photo Rich – Don’t Let it Bog Down Your Blogging Process

Look for photos last (or first!)

Looking for photos can become very time consuming as you search for the perfect photo to go with your blog post. Set aside the time to look for images after you’ve written your first draft.

This strategy can be reversed – find inspiring photos from some of the free stock image sites and let them inspire your blog posts!

Use a screenshots effectively.

If your post sharing that helpful information comes up short and is only 250 words long, bulk up its interest value by adding a teaser screenshot or infographic, highlighting some aspect of the resource that makes your reader want to read more.

Want to take your blog to the next level?

The above tips are an excerpt from our debut “21 Fast and Simple Tips to Write Blog Posts Faster” Guide, one of seven documents in our comprehensive Blogger Monthly Tutorials launching on May 1st. Each tutorial eKit comes with a tutorial, 21 tips sheet, worksheets, calendar, all our recommended tools, and much more!

For the price of your last unfinished premium coffee or tea, you can should invest in yourself and your blog. You know work-related educational materials are a tax write-off, right!? Yeah…taxes are still on my mind… :-/

Click here to sign up for the Limited Time Only Early Bird special release of $5 per month!

Ponn Sabra is a best-selling author and homeschool mom of three tween and teen daughters, also bestselling authors and probloggers. The Managing Partner of Blogger Babes, Ponn is a lover of good photography–but not the one you’ll find in front of the camera nor behind it. So, rather than spend time on gazing at gorgeous blog photos, she delegates this task for quicker results. What can you delegate that’s time-consuming because you either love or despise the act?

April 15, 2015

A Year (Plus) and a Blogiversary Giveaway

Somebody totally forgot their one year blogiversary.

OK, it was me. But in my defense, I may have completely lost track of time because this wasn’t my first attempt to start Twenty Something Plus. The first one was very basic and I didn’t really do anything with it.

Also, I’ve been working on a side thing or two. I’m really excited about my future and the potential of what was initially something I began just to entertain myself.

All excuses aside, I’m making up for missing out on what could have been a giant celebration, by doing a belated blogiversary giveaway!

All products included are by brands that I use. If you don’t believe me, feel free to stalk my Instagram.

What was originally a rather basic prize bundle, got a MAJOR upgrade thanks to Alyssa of bba bracelets.

It’s going to be SO hard giving all this stuff away. Especially this gorgeous beaded bracelet stack! I have my bba beaded tassel bracelet, which I LOVE, but these remind me of the ocean, so naturally, I’m obsessed.

SO pretty! You know you want to enter…

Begins Wednesday, April 15, 2015 12:00AM EST and runs until Wednesday, April 22, 2015 12:00AM EST. Open to U.S. and Canada only. No purchase required. Winner will be selected at random and must respond within 48 after being contacted. This giveaway isn’t endorsed or associated by anyone but me. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

April 13, 2015

My April 2015 Julep Maven Box…Oops!

Remember when I said I wouldn’t be getting my Julep Maven box for a while? Well, I may have forgotten to skip this month and was really upset with myself. That is until I got my box, or rather, until I tried the beauty product included.

I have so much nail polish that, according to the manfriend and my family, I don’t need more. I say, I don’t need that kind of negativity. And that’s what my bank account tells me. I half joke…

But, what I do need is an endless supply of Don’t Leave Your Brows At Home in rich brown.

I have shared almost way too many brow products that I use. That’s because I really go through them. I like trying different ones, because the only way to know which one you like best is to try them all. Again, half joke.

But seriously, even when I don’t really put on a lot of makeup, I do my eyebrows.

Don't Leave Your Brows At Home in rich brown

This is my favorite, yes, favorite brow product to date. Minimal effort for eyebrows on fleek. I mean it.

And the polish colors are two that I know I’ll be using this summer. One of them is named Drew. (In case you didn’t know, the manfriend’s name is Andrew and thanks to all the college students we’ve worked with I call him Drew more often than he probably likes. Also, my niece and youngest nephew call him Uncle Drew. The other three refer to him as their aunt’s boyfriend…) Plus you can’t really go wrong with pink.

Next month I’ll go back to skipping, and set a reminder in my calendar so I don’t forget. And now I know what I’ll be using all my Jules Points for!

In case you were wondering, this month’s candy was the Everlasting Gobstopper.

April 7, 2015

Make Me Blush

BH Cosmetics just had their Spring Makeup Madness Sale, I was so proud of myself for scoring the Glamorous Blush Palette for only $6.95. Said palette is regularly $16.95 and still on sale, but the sale price went up to $8.95.

If you’re thinking so what, big deal, then you don’t know me (or my shopping habits) very well.

It was only like a year ago that I spent enough at Sephora to qualify for VIB Rouge. So believe me when I say that I have been really, really good.

You would not believe how good I’ve been lately. This was the only thing I purchased, and the brushes were on sale too!

Yep, 10 blush colors for under $10.

And the variety!

Some shimmery, some matte, pinks and berries…

I own a few blushes, but mostly in similar shades, so I’m happy to now be able to switch up my look more often and in a different way than I typically do. Maybe, I’ll start sharing beauty looks…

Maybe.

The only thing I’d change is that the colors don’t have names. Don’t worry, I’ll get over it.

April 1, 2015

What is Monarch Workshop?

A few times, I’ve mentioned Monarch Workshop, but I haven’t really talked about the full experience. After attending for the second time, some sharing needs to happen.

In the fall, Monarch Workshop was held in the B:Hive, this time we convened there in the AM for coffee, but then moved to The Bananaland.

There was food provided by Whisk + Brush throughout the day.

Yoga happened.

It was much needed.

There were tons of raffle prizes.

And swag. SO. MUCH. SWAG.

We were inspired.

We crafted.

We ‘grammed. A lot. I even got to take over the Stiletto Shoe Lounge Instagram Account!

And this is just in a nutshell.

Monarch Workshop is by far the most (if not the only) holistic workshop EVER. We talked about everything from nutrition to networking and then some. And even better? I can honestly say I’ve made some really great friends.

Plus, PHOTOBOOTH!

If you’re thinking about attending, I encourage you to treat yourself. And if you’re not thinking about attending, I think you should at least think about it…

Thank you, Maddie, Jessica and Dream Team for another unbelievably empowering experience!

Every single one of these photos is from Victoria Gloria, because I love her oh so mucho and her photos totally put the ones I’d taken to shame.

Also, in case you needed a little more encouragement, here are some blog posts from other Monarch Workshop attendees (one of them is a video!):

Sami Jo of Poor & Pretty
Mary of Uncustomary Art
Christine of CrissCross Journeys
Whitney of Leopard Spots & Pineapple Dots
Kimberly of Happy Healthy Hearts
Melissa of the Haven Collective
Cassandra of Cassandra Madeline
Maya of Mojalvo

March 27, 2015

Five on a Friday: Orange

Unless you count leopard print, I don’t have a favorite color. There are colors that I like, colors that I love, but none that I would consider my favorite. When people can’t understand that, I used to just tell them yellow.

Thanks to J. Crew, I think it’s safe to say that my signature color is now orange.

My coat is not the only orange possession I have and am obsessed with…

Lately I’ve been feeling like Olaf from Frozen. Go With the Lava Flow from OPI’s Hawaii Collection that I got from People’s Stylewatch, gives me hope that summer will come.

This clutch is far from new, but I love it.

I have the pleasure of attending Monarch Workshop this past weekend and meet some of the most amazing women, EVER. I’ll be sharing more about my experience later, but one inspirational beauty, Alyssa Antonucci, makes the absolute cutest beaded bracelets. I am so in love with this tassel one from her, that I don’t think I’ve taken it off since the workshop!

For the longest time I thought that flip flops were flip flops and Havaianas were overrated. Then I found a pair at T.J.Maxx and I can’t believe I ever though such ludicrous things…

And last, but not least, I snagged this orange tank from Old Navy clearance for $2! I’d seen it and wanted it, but wasn’t sure just how much so I didn’t buy it, wait, and then had to have it. I went back, couldn’t find it, got really upset, then went through the entire clearance section until I found it. I earned this top. You will definitely be seeing it in an outfit post or two at some point.

Do you have a signature color? What’s your favorite color to wear?

March 25, 2015

Switching Up My Skincare

Did you know that e.l.f. Cosmetics now has a skincare line?

Well, until very recently, neither did I.

I have been asked about my skincare routine a few times, and to be quite honest, I don’t really have one. Or rather, I didn’t have a consistent one. I tried a few lines, but never found anything that I loved to use on a regular basis, and could afford to buy more of when I needed to.

While very familiar with e.l.f. Cosmetics (their lengthening mascara is one of my favorites), I know they’re a brand that I can purchase something from without feeling guilty. If I were to go on vacation and forget to pack my makeup brushes, I wouldn’t even think twice about buying a whole new set. Call me crazy, but you can literally buy an entire quality e.l.f. set of brushes for the same price as one brush from just about any other cosmetic brand.

Day:

I wash my face, apply the soothing serum, then the daily hydration moisturizer and finish by dabbing the illumination eye cream around my eyes (all around, not just underneath).

Tip: When applying the eye cream, use your ring finger to dab gently, the eye area is very sensitive.

Night:

After washing my face (or more realistically cleaning it with a makeup removing wipe), I apply the Nourishing Night Cream.

I’ve now been using the e.l.f. Cosmetics skincare products for the past two weeks and I can already tell that this is going to be a phenomenal relationship!

Also, if you don’t follow them on Instagram, you might want to…
#playbeautifully

March 13, 2015

Gap Ankle Booties for Spring

I’d been saying that I need to replace my brown booties for a while. And lately I’ve been obsessed with Gap (and more specifically the ridiculous sales they’ve been having lately).

These ankle booties were basically a no brainer. As were these jean leggings, which I got for only like five or six bucks!

In other news, I have yet to part ways with my other brown ankle booties. I mean, they’re different. They have more of a heel, and they are a bit taller…

This is my first outfit post (I’ve been trying to do more) since Daylight Saving Time, and the New England temps have basically been borderline spring (SO tempted to wear shorts), so layers had to happen. I don’t have too many transitional season styling tips, but layers are a MUST. Especially, for those spring “hot flash” moments, where you’re um am I hot or am I cold…

Forever 21 Sweater | H&M t-shirt | Gap Jeans | Gap Ankle Booties| H&M Purse

I like to think of my style as pretty basic, like chic, but casual. And I even tried to follow the three piece rule. Thoughts?

March 12, 2015

My March Birchbox

Guess what I got!?

My March Birchbox. No surprises there. Once again, despite the fact that I said I wouldn’t, I decided to select the feature box this month. There wasn’t a guest curator, but there was a theme.

Beauty Solutions!

Products that are the answers to some of our biggest beauty blunders…

What made me change my mind?

Well, honestly the blush. It’s baked, and I had yet to try a baked blush and wanted to know what the hype was all about. Let’s just say, Laura Geller Beauty’s Baked Blush-n-Brighten in Pink Grapefruit is my new favorite blush.

It also didn’t hurt that there was a derma e product again this month. Still can’t get enough! And paired with the derma e product from my box last month, perfect combo. My travel bag has never been happier!

Not everyone gets their monthly subscription box one the same day. So, after seeing a comment on Facebook about the smell of the Whish body butter, I was worried I would hate it. Delightfully, to me, it smells like almond scented anything else and I really enjoy it. It’s now a staple in my handbag, and I have yet another item added to my list of things to save my Birchbox points up for.

I’d never heard of Dear Clark and since discovering Ubuntu oils, I’ve been pretty loyal. However, I started running low, so giving this hair tonic a try will be happening, just not quite yet.

Usually, when I get a smaller sized sample, I am left feeling slightly cheated and a little disappointed. I’ve learned that with Supergoop! a little bit goes a very long way, so I don’t mind as much. I’ve tried this eye cream before, and I think I may still have some left from the last time I got a sample.

Is there anything from my March Birchbox that you’d want to try? Anything you already use? Let me know in the comments!

March 9, 2015

Big Hair Don’t Care

After getting my Big Hair Don’t Care sweatshirt from Birchbox (because you know, I just had to have it), I may or may not have gotten my hair cut (thank you, Supercuts), and completely forgot to share about it.

The phrase didn’t really seem to apply anymore (sorry, Bow & Drape), but I wanted to rock it while there was still snow on the ground. (Not that this much can go anywhere…)

So, I decided to go ahead, give my newly short hair a little bit of volume, and call it a day.