Weddings, they are equally weighted in bliss and stress. My Mama's must do this week is to find a reading for my brother's wedding. I have free reign which is proving the tricky part.
Every website I go to links to the same rhythmic poems, that after you've read 5, they all start to sound the same!
Any suggestions will be very gratefully received!
I am taking part in a secret blog angel project started by Craftbotic. The idea of the project is that each month a new set of angels secretly help those bloggers, who have asked for a bit of advice in the blog world.
It doesn't matter if your own blog is new or old, it's all about a fresh pair of eyes.
I was paired with a blog which I would say is in a different category to mine, if I had to categorise!
The first thing I did was try and find some common ground. Luckily there was lots!
Being a blog angel has made me analyse the presentation of a post. I rarely post without a photograph or 5 thrown in as that is my 'thing', even though I hate that phrase. Plus I always use my own photographs unless I am linking up on a current crush post. Whether they actually need to be adorned with photographs I don't know, I know I just love looking at other people's!
I think good photography has a lot to do with confidence (and clever editing). There are lots of free applications and filters so you don't have to have a DSLR to take stunning pictures. I hope that I have been able to encourage my blogger to have confidence in their presentation, albeit with subtle and not so subtle hints.
The balancing act being a blog angel is making sure you keep in regular contact but don't over do it!
My obsessive personality is not so helpful with this project!
I am checking in on their blog daily but don't necessarily comment everyday. Somedays they post and somedays they don't. I definitely haven't got this balance right. As I have children I tend to blog when I have the time and try to post at least once a day. But that means on certain days, when the children are entertaining themselves for a good 10 mins, I can type up a couple of posts, to finish off in the evening. I know this might be too much but with these 2 boys I never know when the chance will come again!
I think encouraging others to join in links that are relevant is a great way to spread their word!
The difficult part of being a blog angel is not being able to give direct feedback, even though that is why they signed up for having an angel in the first place! I am also worried that I might come across as a bit of a nosey parker asking leading questions or giving advice too freely. In theory, what blog qualifications do I have! (Well, rather proud of being BritMums blogger of the week!)
I have really wanted to get to know them, which is hard when some bloggers post everything but about themselves! I realised I am only in the minority of the photographs on my blog and maybe that should change! Do tell me if you get sick of the sight of me! Presenting the real you is important too not just the one with a vintage effect! This project has inspired me to post my first vlog which I recorded earlier and now need to edit. First I need to master iMovie!
Perhaps I am getting more out of the project than the blogger I am an angel for! I hope not!
I am totally convinced I have been sussed but I don't know whether that is because paranoia has set in!
The best reward for me, is knowing that despite being paired to my blogger by way of a blog link, we actually genuinely seem to enjoy reading each others posts!
Off to check in again and see if there is anything I can comment on, constructively and on the QT!
Even though we have had 2 years notice of my brother's wedding (In New York state) on the 29th June and almost a whole year since small boy came into the world, both events have seriously crept up on me! I have been running around like a mad woman this week, getting surprise bits sorted for the wedding (I would show you but my brother and his fiancee might read it!) and staying up til the early hours, looking up fabulous ideas, for small boy's Olympic themed party.
The party is on the Saturday after we land from America on the Tuesday, so I need to get organised now!
All this week I have been gasping and gushing over some amazing blogs, who have thrown their children amazing Olympic parties! I was blown away by one party that pretty much took over an entire beach for the races!
My head is whirring with inspiration and ideas and I just keep scribbling more and more down on a scrap bit of paper (well on 3 pieces now!).
Most of them are not costly in money, but in time. But those are always my favourite! I will happily give up watching tv in the evening to be sticking or painting something or other! People always tell me "oh I don't know where you get the time" but it's because I never relax!
Here are some of my favourite ideas! I found giant balloons on eBay for £3.99 in the Olympic colours! Just need an army sized tank of helium to inflate them!
Have a peek at my pinterest board for the rest! I'm adding by the hour! Any suggestions let me know!
My new favourite link with Danielle from Framed Frosting.
