Occasionally, I sit down and think of how far my blog has come. When I first started it and within the first few years in which I didn't really show much dedication, there was very little interaction with brands but in the past few months, I have been really quite lucky to have been working with lots of different brands and attending fantastic events.

Don't get me wrong, I am still constantly building a rapport with brands - creating relationships and a good reputation - so I'm very far from being the next Zoella or Blogger-Millionaire at the moment, but I'm actually having a hella lot of fun. The events are great fun and experience, being gifted products makes me incredibly grateful, and even just speaking with PR teams makes me excited for what's to come.

However, the interaction between myself and brands didn't just come out of nowhere. Since rebooting my blog last year, I have made a few changes that I do feel have increased my chances when it comes to being reached by some companies. If you're looking to get in the good books' of a few more businesses, these 3 actions that I took might be something for you to consider taking on.

Disclosing my location.
I spoke previously about how completely hiding my identity on my blog was something I consider a 'Blogging Mistake' of mine. Now that I share a little bit more about myself, such as my face and my identity, I feel like I can connect more with my audience and they can with me. More specifically, brands can see who I am and if I'm the style of blogger that they want to work with.

So, it can start with just showing your face a little more but, taking one step further and sharing your round-about location once in a while is also pretty helpful too. As many of you may know already, I'm from the North East of England and, because I've disclosed this information in places such as my blog and Instagram Location, local brands and event holders have invited me to work with them.

When I first started blogging, I would never have thought of doing this - I was quite happy sitting at home on my laptop, watching the clock tick by as I waited for Urban Decay to send me all of their products. If you start local, not only do you get to know the amazing things going on right in front of your doorstep, but you're almost learning to walk before you crawl.



Embracing my interests.
At the start of the year, I spoke about why I wanted to start embracing my interests and the interest that I'd like to indulge in - little did I know, this would provide interest for brands. One of my interests to embrace was nature and to not be afraid to show everyone my enthusiasm for nature walks and, surprisingly, some brands picked up on my nature style and wanted to work with it. For example, Yes To were really interested in being part of my blog post on Reducing Plastic Waste and promoting compostable wipes that were kinder to the environment. Similarly, when I joined the Time To Change campaign for spreading Mental Health Awareness I was encouraged by the brand to embrace the outdoors and, quite gladly, that's exactly what I did.

Admittedly, the brands like you to post collaborative content that reflects similar vibes to your usual content because, if your audience are following and enjoying you for your usual style, then the collaboration has higher chances of going down well. By showcasing my interests and establishing a 'style', it almost gives the companies a playing ground; a canvas to paint on, or the first points of a mood board.

Going the little extra mile.
If you feel capable of producing more content than initially requested by the brand then DO IT. Show the brand you're willing and creative - you would do it in your day to day job, so do it with your blog.

On a few occasions I have gone that little extra mile for brands, not to lick their backside or suck up like a goody-two-shoes, just to express my gratefulness and because, frankly, it's more content for me. An example of this is when I was invited to see the new Himalayan Charcoal Range at one of The Body Shop stores. I was in no agreement with the brand to review these products after the event but, a few weeks after I'd tried the products out, I shared my review and how much I was loving the products.

But it's not always going that far. If you're attending an event that you've been given free tickets to in return for just a blog post, or one instagram story (just a few examples), sometimes it's not only beneficial for the brand if you share one extra Insta pic or exceed their minimum word count, ect. but beneficial for bulking up your content as well. If you present your willingness, dedication, and creativity where you can like this, you'll end up growing a great relationship with the brands and could potentially be considered for more campaigns.


There are so many different ways that you can build a rapport with your favourite brands but it all pretty much starts with dedication and always being eager to learn. I'm certainly looking forward to learning more and more and working with different brands in the future.

One thing that I will no doubt get on holiday is an OTT cliche red, burnt nose and have a bunch of freckles all over my face. I'm a Fair, English rose, and the sun likes to remind me of it before I get the chance to say 'suncream'. On this holiday though, I am determined to make sure that everything going on my face is going to keep me protected*. Here are the 3 SPF facial skincare products that I'll be using:

*Disclaimer: None of these products are designed to be used for sunbathing. The highest SPF content amongst the products is 20 (average) and therefore only provides medium protection for day-to-day use.

LA ROCHE POSAY HYDREANE BB CREAM - SPF 20
    I've had this product for a pretty long time now and, to be honest, it's barely been used because I've never really found the right time. I also kind of feel as though I've learned to love it as I've grown up; I've learned to love the fresh, clean smell of it, rather than wishing for something sweeter and I'm happy with the low coverage that it provides now when previously I would have been more interested in higher coverage than protective qualities.
    Anyhow, I wouldn't spread the word about it being a beautiful makeup base but I would certainly recommend it as a brilliant way to add a bit of coverage and evenness to the face if you needed a little sun protection at the same time. I reckon it's perfect for an early evening meal when the sun is low in the sky but you want to dress up a little.

VEIL COVER CREAM - SPF MEDIUM
    After attending a Blogger event for this product and trying out the Sample Kit, I fell in love with this product - a few months later I bought the full-size tub. The shade that I use is called Medium (don't let the name fool you, there are sooo many different shades and the sample kits are amazing for working yours out) and the coverage that it gives off a just tiny amount of product is amazing! I can't believe that it has a Medium SPF as well - it's almost too good to be true.
    Originally designed for covering marks and 'imperfections' on a persons face, this cream creates a more than ample coverage for my redness and uneven skin tone in it's UK state so I'm really excited for it to work its magic on my rosy red cheeks.
    I'll be particularly focussing on my nose for this, as that's where I tend to get badly burnt (although this time around I want to take extra care of my nose with SPF). Usually, foundation products don't sit well on my nose for whatever reason, it almost always seems to disappear from my skin or go dry and scaley - however, Veil Cover Cream isn't called 'Cream' just for the giggles; it also has lovely moisturising qualities so generally sits a little better on my seemingly problematic snout.


BOTANICS RADIANT YOUTH DAY CREAM - SPF 15
    Perhaps the lowest Sun Protection Factor of them all but definitely my favourite product. For the past few weeks I have been loving this product and the reason why I've decided to pack it in my holiday bags is that not only does it work well with my skin, it has an SPF 15.
    When I initially received the product I kind of just assumed that it was like any old anti-wrinkle cream and definitely not something that I would typically be seen using at the grand old age of 19. Nevertheless, I continued using it and, as soon as I started smelling it on my skin I was hooked. The Gingko ingredient gives it a beautiful scent, reminiscent of Parma Violets. And here's the thing, if you know me or have followed my blog for a while, you'll know that for years I wouldn't go anywhere near a daily facial moisturiser if it wasn't the La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5. Admittedly, I didn't really like this somewhat 'addiction' that I had to the cream, not only because of it's hefty price tag, but because it wasn't really designed to be a twice daily moisturiser due to how rich it is. Now that this little angel has come along, I haven't gone near the Cicaplast tube in WEEKS!
    I use this Day Cream during the day after cleansing as a hydrating moisturiser that will provide protection from any UV rays then, after my evening shower, I pop the complimenting Night Cream for that last boost of moisture while I sleep. And my skin? It's never been better. Whether it's a fluke or if this cream is the perfect richness and hydration for me, nevertheless, I've been spot-free for weeks.
    If you're going on holiday this year, I would 100% recommend that you take this cream with you for a feeling of refresh and protected skin on a morning. In fact, this product would work just as many magical wonders on the UK summer days too.

Everyone must know by now that I'm off on Holiday soon and I'm crazy-excited. It's the first summer holiday I'll be taking since 4 years ago which, for me, is a pretty long time. Cus of this, I want it to be a brilliant mixture of both fun times and downtimes. In my downtime, I'd love to get back into reading books because it's something I haven't had the real chance to do for a long time. I'm always either busy-bodying around the place or writing for my blog. So, to make it a bit more interesting, I've decided to pick 3 different types of books for my holiday - they are:

THE ONE I'M HALFWAY THROUGH
Looking at the images, you can see THE MANIFESTO ON HOW TO BE INTERESTING by HOLLY BOURNE has very sadly had it's spine cracked. Believe me, the dread that I felt as soon as that happened hung on my shoulders for weeks (Just, kidding, I'm not that emotionally attached). But just below that line is where I'm up to in the book. So far it's been a good book - I really like the characters and the way it's written and I'm actually quite excited to see how the story unfolds.

"Bree is a loser, a wannabe author who hides behind words. But when she's told she needs to start living a life worth writing about, The Manifesto on How to Be Interesting is born. Six steps on how to be interesting. Six steps that will see her infiltrate the popular set, fall in love with someone forbidden and make the biggest mistake of her life."

THE EDUCATIONAL ONE
This one I am pretty excited about. It's YOU SAY POTATO by BEN & DAVID CRYSTAL. Now, if you're not really interested in the course I'm taking at Uni or just aren't a fan of English Language, you probably won't feel as excited about this book as I am. But, I'll tell you something, I'm bloody ecstatic! One of the main topics within the study of English Language that excites me the most is the concept of 'Accents' and exactly how and why there are so many interesting and quirky accent across the UK. To me, it feels like something that everyone would be quite interested in because, after studying it A-Level, it comes with some great laughs and relatability. Anyhow, this book is the exploration of all things English accents written by one of the most acclaimed English Language writers and his son. It's destined to be "Witty, authoritative and jam-packed full of fascinating facts" so it should be great for my downtime. 

A usual Friday night for me includes a home cooked meal, a bit of television, and an early night. My previous Friday night was more than a little different.

A while ago, I was invited to attend a Gin Festival in Newcastle and, given the usual quiet nights that I usually choose, I thought it would be nice to do something a little different. So Jamie and I packed our bags, headed up to Newcastle and, after a mooch around town and dumping our bags at his brother's flat, we got dressed up for the event.

Now, here's the thing, I'm not a massive drinker. I mean, I drank quite a bit of alcohol after I'd turned 18 because of the novelty of it and the parties with friends but, as I've matured and found myself, I've realised that it's not really something that I want to do really often. I certainly don't drink to get drunk; it's more about the taste for me. So I'm quite accompanied to the odd cocktail here and there. Gin is the kind of spirit that, although I've tried it a few times here and there, I'd never really learned and appreciated it - so this Festival seemed like the perfect opportunity to get to know it a little bit better.

WHAT IS THE GIN FESTIVAL?
Any gin lover right now is probably screaming 'Tell me more!'. Well, this event is the UK's original touring Gin Festival and has been moving around the UK, sharing exciting Gin's, since it was founded in 2013. At the Newcastle Event, there was a showcase of more than 80 different Gins for everyone to try. The Gins chose for the events tend to be flavoursome spirits that are home-grown and unique; for example, Friday's selection included Mason's Gin which is produced in Bedale, Yorkshire. As well as this, there isn't a green Gordon's or Tanqueray bottle in sight - this festival is purely designed on learning all about the wonders of gin produced closer to home and for tasting the incredible different flavours.

This particular event was hosted at the Newcastle Racecourse in Gosforth; the Gin Festival always seem to host their festivals at great venues. I'd attended an event here before and thought it was pretty great so I was already excited to be back.
When we first arrived, Jamie and I did feel a little lost despite the fact that we'd been before. There weren't any signposts along the road to direct us (yes, poor Jamie ended up driving so, unfortunately, couldn't have a drink) and not many people around. Despite this, we quickly began to realise once we'd entered the venue that, this wasn't the typical kind of event that the Racecourse hosts, and took on a very civilised and calm approach. I actually found it really welcoming that we were personally greeted by one of the members and staffs and explained to how everything works.

HOW DOES IT WORK?
The entry for the Newcastle evening started at £10 then, inside the event, payment was based on Tokens. You can buy a set of 4 tokens for £20 and 1 token equates to 1 G&T, or 2 tokens for a cocktail; to put it the easy way, a Gin and Tonic is £5 and a cocktail is £10. A decent system if you ask me. There's little confusion about it all and the staff were more than happy to answer any of our questions. It's also easy to grab your tokens at the special 'Token Station' as everything inside the building was perfectly signposted within.

Inside the venue there were 4 main rooms; the Cocktail Bar (where the bar staff are brilliant, btw), a Bar where you can choose a G&T from around 80 Gins and 9 Schweppes types, the 'Masterclass Room' where you can go on every hour to hear from the Gin Brands themselves and learn a little bit about their products, and 'The Brands' room where you can chat with a few different brands and sample the different types.

My FAVOURITE part of learning how it all works was at the start when you're given a glass to house your drinks throughout the night but also told you can KEEP IT! I was delighted to finally have my very own gin glass.

As of June 22nd, I will have been on Instagram for one year. But hear me out, I'm not completely behind on the social media wave; I've been using Instagram for a lot longer than 1 year, but I'm soon celebrating my 'Instaversary' for my Blog Instagram. This means that 1 year ago, I took the step from using my personal Instagram for very occasional and shy blog promotion to promoting my blog loud and proud in its own little corner of the 'gram.

For anyone scrolling through my Instagram, it's easy to see that there's been a whole lot of change over the year. I started my blog Instagram the same way I started my blog, really. I was naive; I hadn't really done my research. I know a lot of people will prepare to start a 'blog Instagram' by scrolling through hundreds of similar accounts - with me, I was kind of going off how I felt. In a way, I guess I still am. My blog, as well as my Instagram, has always just been 'going with the flow'. As a creative person, I use these platforms to portray myself honestly and personally. Even looking at my grid now, there's still a sense of 'going with the flow' whether you see a 'theme' or not, it's all a simple case of "yeah, that looks good - let's post it".

Despite the somewhat laid-back approach that I might seem to have, I didn't quite expect the sense of protectiveness that came with having a blog-Instagram. It's my little hub; my own place to promote solely my blog and, in an incredibly similar way to a blog, the place where I can build a reputation from others simply through photographs and words. Some may think it's a second blog or a mini blog. I sort of agree - if your Instagram and your blog fit together like lock and key, you have quite a hefty tin of magic on your hands. And, like I imagine many people will be, having that little corner of the internet, looking after it (whether that's by spending your money on it, or writing for it) kind of makes you feel like a mother to it. It's your own - and my blog-Instagram is almost like my second child.

When 2018 started, I already knew that my life was going to get pretty exciting and busy after June. My holiday starts in June, July is my last month at home, in August I move out, and Uni starts in September. It's destined to be full of great experiences and I want to be able to look back at these next few months with pride and fond memories.

These are my goals, split into categories, for June and July:

BLOG
Stop fretting over blog post length.
With the desire for my blog to succeed comes the urge to always make things the best they can be and, while I completely agree with quality over quantity, it's difficult to find a balance when you're simply trying to be consistent. I like to keep my blog as consistent as possible because, as someone who wishes to make a strong reputation with brands, it looks good. However, sometimes I can struggle for words, especially if I'm pressuring myself to write 1,500 words per post. But not only this, sometimes I panic that I haven't written enough words even though I simply don't have much to say. I think, across these next few months, I'd like to stop being so hard on myself and write however much feels right for me, and no one else.

Keep up the consistency.
As I just said previously, I've recently been doing pretty well with uploading blog posts pretty frequently. I'm not going to lie, I do pride myself on this, and I like to think that I'm quite good at generating blog post ideas. However, there is a burning fear that one day I blank and get a spell of 'writer's block'. But, I should know by now that taking a little break from my little blog would be no disaster and sometimes does your brain and creativity a bit of good. Yet, for now, I'm proud of the work I'm producing and I'd like to see it continue over the next few months despite the hectic plans.


HOLIDAY
Let myself go + have fun.
In my previous post, I mentioned that I am particularly anxious when it comes to visiting foreign countries and it can sometimes leave me feeling exhausted. Even though it may sound easier said than done, I'd really like to let myself go on this holiday and instead of letting my brain focus on the unfamiliarity, I'd love to come back feeling like I embraced different culture and experiences.
Explore.
It's different for everyone but, personally, I take a holiday as an opportunity to relax and enjoy the sunshine. I used to go on cruises with my family and sometimes when we docked, I chose to stay onboard the ship in the safety of the decks. On our holiday to Nerja this year, I'd really like to take adventures with open arms. I also feel like now that I have more of a desire to photograph my experiences for my Blog and Instagram, there's more reason to explore. I've already found a bunch of places that I want to visit when we're abroad - I can't wait!

LIFESTYLE.
Make plans with friends.
One of the realities of a gap year that I completely forgot to mention in my recent Blog Post is that it can be a pretty lonely time, most especially if all of your friends head off across the country to University and you're left at home staring at the same old walls. This is why, in June and July, while my college friends are on summer break, I'd really love to get some social fun in. We already have a bunch of things planned and, lately, I've been finding that I'm really enjoying their company. Whether it's attending the gym together or all going for a sunny picnic in the park, while we're all together, I'd love to make the most of it.

Keep up the gym motivation.
I mentioned in my April Favourites that I've been enjoying the gym lately because I'm noticing improvements in my physical AND mental health. In the next few months, I'd love to keep it up, especially when I no longer have the end goal of a bit more body confidence on holiday. I'm currently doing 3 times a week and I'm sure that, if I can keep that up for the next month, not only will it give me confidence for holiday, but it might give me that sense of routine that I'll always want to continue.

Be ready to move.
It's almost quite scary writing these words out; knowing that I'm getting so close to moving out of my family home. In July, Jamie and I will have to be flicking around getting our last essentials bought - at the moment, this includes a mop and bucket, a kettle (very essential for our tea addictions), and possibly an iron. We do already have a big bunch of things to take with us but I fear that there are a few things that we'll forget. What 'essentials' do you think we definitely need to take with us?