...Sailing To Nowhere...

A Welcome Return

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 17:00:00 +0000

After the sad news of last week I now return with a proper re-introduction post. I have been thinking about getting back into blogging for a little while now, after the short hiatus that unexpectedly turned into nearly a year long break. Sometimes life stuff gets in the way, things change, priorities shift and I was struggling to keep up with the blog. I never intended to take such a long break which is why I disappeared so suddenly and to be entirely honest after such a long time I didn't think I would return to it. I was always very proud of my blog, how I kept it going and growing and connected with lots of great bloggers and I was very sorry to let all of that go. I briefly thought about starting a new blog but it seemed a shame to abandon all the hard work I had put into this one and start all over again.

So here I am once more, a new layout and a renewed hope for the future. I have included a picture of my old layout to accompany this post just as remembrance for myself really. I do love that layout but I'm hoping it will be the start of a new era so it was time to change things up a bit. I have plenty of fresh ideas and hope that I can maybe start to go in a slightly different direction with some of the content. I'm very excited to get back to blogging and hope that some of you are still reading. I have high hopes, as I usually do, but it really is a case of one day at a time. So as usual please do share your thoughts, or just say hi by commenting below.

Rest In Peace Little Willow

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Mon, 11 Nov 2013 17:00:00 +0000

A sombre note on which to return to the blog but one that nevertheless deserves acknowledgment. Last week my beloved dog, Willow passed away in her sleep. I am incredibly grateful that she was at home in her own bed, safe, warm and loved. I am very glad she did not have to endure the pain of a long, drawn out illness or the terror of a visit to the vets. I will however continue to miss her every moment of the day for a very long time to come. The house is terribly quiet and lonely without her. I am sure as many of you will know, the loss of a beloved pet leaves a huge space both in your heart and in your home. It seems impossible to believe that I will never see her again, stroke her fur, hear her bark, see her tail wag when I return home. Having her since she was a small pup she has been with my family for almost half of my life, from the age of thirteen I have hardly been without her and I cannot remember life before she became part of our family. She was an incredible dog, I could not have asked for a greater companion and we all loved her so very much. She will be greatly missed.

Sewing Preparations

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 14:00:00 +0000

So I neglected to post for the last couple of weeks. In case you were wondering why it is mostly because I've been busy designing all the clothes I plan on making with the stacks of fabric I acquired a few months ago. When I say 'acquired' I mean 'went on a crazy buying spree' I now have a dedicated cupboard filled with Liberty fabric just waiting to be turned into lovely dresses and blouses.

I've enjoyed losing myself in a creative pursuit and when it is accompanied by marathon Buffy episode watching then all the better. I hope that in the new year I will actually start making some of these dresses. I have had a big clear put of my wardrobe in preparation for the influx of new clothes, wishful thinking I'm sure.

I'm hoping for a stress free run up to Christmas with plenty of trips out in the wintery weather as well as time spend cosy by the fire with a book and some good films. I thoroughly intend on getting in the Christmas spirit. What are your plans for the holidays?

Top Ten Autumn Essentials

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 17:00:00 +0000

Jack Wills

I welcome that nip in the air that signals the start of the cold weather, the evenings drawing in, digging out my cosy cardigans and dusting off my fur lined boots. I love autumn fashions more than any other season and when autumn and winter come around I wait with baited breath for new sartorial offerings, cord, velvet, wool and flannel, in shades of plum, umber, and caramel... Ahh I could go on I'm sure but this post is about my top ten autumn wardrobe staples. All of the examples above are available at Jack Wills.

Cord always makes an appearance in the autumn and is a nice alternative to denim, it is usually found in a variety of lovely warm autumn colours too so it is super easy to add a little colour to your autumn outfits. I'm a sucker for a plaid shirt, they are the basis of my dressed down wardrobe, so versatile and comfy, you really can't go wrong. A cute blouse is also a great addition as a more girly alternative but if you pick the right one it can be just as versatile.

I love shift dresses at the minute and long sleeves and the dress pictured above ticks both of those boxes. Give it a bold, interesting print and its three for three. Felt hats are everywhere this season, whether it is a trilby, fedora or a riding hat they make any outfit look stylish and up to the minute. A classic pea coat is a great investment that will last for years, there are so many variations out there to choose from everyone should find their perfect coat. I recently bought a beautiful vintage pea coat on Etsy and I love it. Blazers are something I struggle to find to suit my shape but I really like tan and camel blazers at the minute, on trend but also a piece that won't go out of style.

Finally no autumn wardrobe is complete without a pair of boots, a little pair of flat brown chelsea boots like the ones pictured will go with everything from jeans to dresses and be a wardrobe staple for years to come. These are my choices for autumn, what are your autumn essentials?

Amy Farrah Fowler

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 17:00:00 +0000

Any Big Bang Theory fans reading? If you are a fan and you live here in the UK you will know that the new series starts tonight. I planned this outfit post ages ago and it just so happened that I scheduled it completely randomly, for the day that the new series started. Coincidence? I'm sure Sheldon would be able to work out the likelihood of that random occurrence but I'm going to go with spooky coincidence.

I love the character of Amy and while she is an unlikely style icon I found it scarily easy to find a copy cat outfit in my own wardrobe. As soon as I saw this skirt in Aubin and Wills it made me think of Amy Farrah Fowler so after picking the skirt up in the sale I had a delve into my wardrobe and watched the rest of the outfit come together without a hitch.

I think it is quite a good example if I do say so myself and while I wouldn't particularly put this combination together I will admit I liked it more than I thought I would. It does have all the elements of a great autumn outfit, lovely autumn colours and different textures. In all honesty this is the first time in ages I have felt enthusiastic or had any inspiration to do an outfit post. I'll have so see if I can find any other unlikely style icons to emulate.

Favourite Pinner - Rebecca Caridad

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 17:00:00 +0000

I probably spend more time on Pinterest than almost any other site and while I could probably make more use of it to bring some traffic to my blog I don't want to take the fun out of it by making it all about the numbers. I am discovering slowly but surely that it is a good way to find some great new blogs though. I follow a great bunch of people on Pinterest which means my feed is always filled to the brim with great pins that are relevant to me and I'm sure a lot of you will agree that often you find yourself pinning a lot of images from the same people. With that in mind I thought why not dedicate a post to one of my favourite pinners and highlight her blog to my lovely readers?

One person who's pins I always find inspiring is Rebecca of the blog Manzanita. After realising I was repinning lots of great things from this lady I decided to take a closer look at her own blog. It is a lovely mix of fashion, outfits, crafts, lifestyle, DIYs and some some great pictures to boot. The talented lady even has her own online shop selling an array of crocheted goods. It is nice to get to know the person behind the pins and I think it is a good way to find like minded bloggers based on similar styles and interests. So next time you feel like your blog roll needs a little refresh try a browse though Pinterest and see what great blogs you can find.

Bookhou Bag

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 16:45:00 +0000

It is fair to say I've dropped the ball on the blog lately, I've had these pictures for ages, just waiting to be turned into a post and when I can to put the post together today I had an awful moment where I thought I had lost them all. Luckily I'm not very fastidious about deleting pictures from my camera so I found them lurking on one of my memory sticks. Phew, crisis averted.

Sad blogger that I am I often take pictures of new purchases as I unwrap them just on the off chance I can include it in a blog post at some point. I must point out I don't do this with all purchases, just those that are wrapped nicely, I particularly enjoyed the personalised hand written note that came with this bag, that's what I love about buying handmade from Etsy, the personal touch.

I had been looking at this bag on Bookhou at Home on Etsy for ages but as a classic tote I didn't know if it was worth the investment as I don't really use tote style bags that often. When I couldn't resist any longer I got in touch with the owner Arounna and asked about custom orders, it was easy-breezy to get the alterations I wanted and I'm so glad I went for it, I really love my bag and I've got loads of use out of it since I bought it. I definitely recommend that you have a look around the Etsy shop and the website as there are some lovely bags and homewares available. Have a little look around and let me know what you think...

Pretty Homewares

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Lately I've been spending a bit of time browsing pretty homewares on the Internet. I always like to imagine what my future house will look like, how I'll decorate it and what little bits and bobs I'll fill it with to make it my own, as a number of my Pinterest boards will testify. While in my current situation I have little space to spare for buying up and storing lots of nic-nacs I don't really need right now I am thinking a lot about how I can change things around a bit. As they say a change is as good as a rest and I think changing your living space even if it just a minor change can make a big difference to your outlook.

I always say a tidy room equals a tidy mind, I find it difficult to focus when the space around me is in chaos so I suppose wanting to change things around and add some pretty pieces to my room is a form of renewal, (or an excuse to buy more pretty things.) I'm not really sure where I stand on artificial flowers, (the real ones make me sneeze) but I think a few fake blooms would look nice displayed in the white jug or the nice Rob Ryan vase.

I love the Caravan range at M&S at the moment, there are some lovely bold pieces for the kitchen and I love the purple cushion. I also love Madeleine Floyd's illustrations, particularly the Birdsong collection which can be found printed on a whole host of items for the home, the biscuit barrel pictured above is particularly cute.

In an attempt to revitalise my workspace and hopefully inspire me again I am thinking of re-organising my desk, the cute set of IKEA drawers would fit wonderfully on my desk to hold stationary within easy reach but keep it all tidy, I already have a similar set on my dresser which I have had for years and have been eternally usefully for keeping all little bits and bobs tidy.

How do you make your house your own? Do you enjoy browsing pretty homewares as much as I do?

To Be Adored Autumn Winter 12

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 16:05:00 +0000

Guess what I've found? Why it's a new TBA collection of course! I really loved the last collection, in fact I posted about it here but after ASOS stopped stocking TBA I was finding it difficult to find any online shops that stocked a good selection of pieces. I was more than a little disheartened as I loved picking up some bargains in the sale, so until I have a lot more money to spend I won't be investing in any more TBA for a little while at least but nevermind, I can dream.

I really love the new collection, and I particularly love the lookbook, there is some great layering of some really interesting textures in this collection. From brocade, lace, chiffon, silk to leather and wool there is such a mix of fabrics here. The collection is both tough and girly, with a little grunge influence, clearly tapping into the 90s trend that has been around for the last couple of seasons. It's masculine and feminine, it is a little bit of everything really and I honestly can't decide which pieces I like the best and I had trouble choosing just a few looks to feature in this post. The brocade top and trousers and the lace dress are particular favourites but a little too decadent for everyday wear...

Which pieces are your favourite? You can check out the whole lookbook here.

Vintage Fair

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 16:08:00 +0000

A little while ago I went to check out a vintage fair on a rare weekend off. I've never been to a vintage fair before so I wasn't sure what to expect. There were quite a few interesting stalls spread out over a few different rooms selling vintage clothing, handmade jewelry and various little nic-nacs, it was quite lovely to walk around discovering all sorts of gems. I took the opportunity to wear a vintage dress for the occasion even though the weather wasn't great and stupidly I didn't get chance to snap a picture of my outfit before the weather turned and started pouring down.

The fair was held at Brockholes nature reserve which looked like a really nice place I would like to go back to for a walk around sometime, definitely a nice place to snap a few pictures. I found out about the fair completely by accident and it was just good luck that I happened to be off the same weekend, if you visit the Crafty Vintage website you can find out about other vintage fairs and events going on each month in Lancashire.

Shop My Wardrobe

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Ok, so I promise I am really back this time, no more long absences while I am struggling to get back to blogging I am determined to get back into it, I have lots of ideas and I'm really missing reading all of your blogs so while posting might be a bit intermittent for a while I am going to aim for at least one post per week for now and see how it goes. So expect to see more from me in the coming weeks.

I've started listing lots of stuff on eBay again so I thought I would let you know you can check out my listings by clicking shop at the top of the page or click here. I'm selling lots of Dahlia dresses, some vintage stuff and a variety of brands, I'll hopefully be listing lots more stuff in the next few weeks so keep checking back if you fancy grabbing a bargain or two. If you're not from the UK but you would like to bid on something let me know and I'll see what I can do.

I look forward to checking out everyone's blogs to see what you have all been up to and chatting to all my blogging pals so don't be shy, drop a line in the comment box and say hi...

Unexplained Absences

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 15:38:00 +0000

Hello! This is a little out of the blue but I'm back on the blog! I can't believe I let things slide so much since my last post, that is the biggest lull I have ever had but we all know that sometimes life gets in the way we lose our enthusiasm for blogging a little bit. I thought it better to take a break for a spell rather than force myself to post when I didn't have the time or the inclination, it is supposed to be fun after all. I will say that I have felt quite guilty letting things slip with the blog in such a spectacular fashion, I'm not sure why, I missed the whole blogosphere but a step back was necessary and I hope that now I'll be back into it and certainly a little more consistent around here. Fingers crossed.

I just wanted to do a quick post to let you all know that I'm still here and thank you to everyone who has visited my blog in my absence and followed or left a comment, I read and appreciate every single one. If you follow me anywhere else on the interweb you will know I haven't exactly been partaking in any other social media of late, so I am sorry for my lack of interaction on that front too. The only thing I have kept up to date with is Pinterest which has filled a lot of my spare time so you can hop over there and see what I have been pinning lately on my boards if you like.

Hope you are all well, what have you all been up to? What have I missed? Leave me some links to your latest posts in the comments section so I can catch up.

Glasses Direct Trial

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Patsy

Since there was the offer of a big discount on glasses at Glasses Direct the other week I decided to go for a another glasses trial with some of the latest London Retro styles. I had been considering getting a pair of prescription sunglasses for a while and since the sun had been out a bit it seemed like the right time. Of course now I have bought them the sun hasn't been out since but I fully expected that to be the case.

Gracie

So these were the four pairs I chose to try out for my trial; Patsy, Kiki, Sherlock and Gracie. The ones I finally decided on for my sunglasses were the Patsy's but in the lighter brown colour which you can see on the website. I thought they were a bit less severe than the black frames but big enough to look good as a pair of sunglasses. I like my sunglass frames large!

Kiki

Since you get a free second pair at Glasses Direct I chose to get the Gracie's as a spare pair of regular glasses, I thought they were different to the other pairs I had with the half frames and they look great with a vintage dress. I'm sure both my new sunglasses will show up in an outfit post at some point, if the weather ever gets better.

Which pair do you like best?

Sherlock

Dolce and Gabbana s/s 12

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Sat, 09 Jun 2012 13:00:00 +0000

I'm not one for keeping up to date with runway trends, I will browse the odd collection but beyond that it isn't something I spend much time on these days. I have never featured a runway collection on the blog before either which is actually quite surprising considering I mostly blog about fashion. Occasionally a collection will catch my eye and this one by Dolce and Gabbana I just couldn't ignore.

I know we are now well into the summer season (despite the weather) and this collection has been around for a while now so I am sure you will have seen it at some point. But in the spirit of getting into a summer mood, it is June after all and we should be enjoying some sun, I decided I just had to post some of these outfits. I love the retro shapes, the matching two piece sets and the bodysuits. All of this coupled with a unique and vibrant set of vegetable printed fabric. Perfection. This collection is definitely going to inspire my sewing projects. So if anyone knows where I can find some vintage patterns similar to these or any quirky fabric with similar novelty patterns please let me know.

Jubilee

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 16:30:00 +0000

We have just had a long bank holiday weekend for the Queen's Jubilee and while that meant a lot of extra shifts at work for me I'm sure lots of people enjoyed the extra time off work. I took these pictures ages ago so I could show off the lovely homemade bunting my mum made and since it was red, white and blue themed I thought it would make a good jubilee outfit post. I was surprised how quickly it has come around, I can't believe we are in June already! What happens to the time?

I co-ordinated my outfit to go with the red, white and blue theme and instead of having to find different pieces to match together I found this dress lurking in my wardrobe that fit the bill perfectly. I have had this dress for years, I got it in a Motel sale and it is always a staple item. I seem to always forget it is there but when I find it it is a welcome surprise. I always love anything nautical and it is so easy to wear, in the summer you can throw it on and off you go. My favourite kind of summer dress.

Judging Books

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 16:00:00 +0000

I know the old adage 'never judge a book by its cover' but I've never been one to pay attention to this. With so many books out there there has to be a way to quickly filter through them. I hate to admit it but when browsing a book shelf the books that jump out are me are usually the ones with an interesting or pretty cover.

There seem to be more and more pretty hardback collections being released these days and I am a sucker for a pretty hardback. With the growing popularity of ebooks and the Kindle there has to be a way for the book to survive. With everything turning digital, MP3s, online movies, the way to make the hard copy sell is to make it visually appealing and exclusive and hope people buy into it. Personally I am a big fan of holding a book, not a Kindle and I like my shelves stacked with books. I can see the appeal for some but for me I'm not sure anything can replace a good old book.

This collection of Fitzgerald's stories are so beautiful with the deco designed covers. Another plus of the beautiful cover means that while people may buy the book for the cover they will also read it. This is how I've discovered many great books I would otherwise never have been introduced to. So sometimes it can be worth judging a book by its cover, or buying a pretty collection of books to find great new titles you hadn't heard of. What are your thoughts on the books vs e-readers? Do you judge books by their covers or is it just me?

The Velvet Bird

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Mon, 28 May 2012 16:00:00 +0000

I was browsing through my favourite shops on Etsy the other day and hidden way back in my list of favourites was one little shop that caught my eye: The Velvet Bird. Now you may or may not know that I am always on the lookout for beautiful handmade dresses and the new offerings at The Velvet Bird are just up my street, not to mention fairly reasonable as far as handmade dresses go. I love all of the dresses I don't think I could choose just one, I am very tempted to save up and buy myself one of each they are all so lovely. Vanessa, the creator of these dresses, also has a rather lovely blog which you can check out here.

Which dress is your favourite?

National Garden Scheme

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Last week I took a little trip to a garden as part of the National Garden Scheme. The scheme includes thousands of gardens across the UK, many of which are privately owned and open just a few days a year to raise money for charity. It seemed like a good opportunity to snap a few pictures and take some outfit shots. It was only a small garden so I had to find quiet corners to snap outfit pictures without anyone seeing.

I am wearing my 'new' vintage trench coat from Etsy, I love it, the colour is perfect, the fit is great and the paisley lining is a lovely feature. I was really pleased with the condition it was in, it even has a removable lining so I think it was well worth the price as it was less than what I would have ended up paying on the high street. Sadly there aren't many good pictures of my blouse as it was a little chilly to take my jacket off. It is NW3 by Hobbs blouse that I found on eBay a while ago and I thought the insect print was apt although as my mum pointed out they are fishing flies and nothing to do with gardens at all.

It was nice to pop out on a little impromptu trip and it was nice to take some good photos out and about for a change so I hope you enjoy them, I particularly love the picture of the robin, I was very proud of that one.

May Sponsors

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Sat, 19 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000

I decided to do a few new button swaps this month, it is a great way to find lovely blogs and make new friends and I have been lucky enough to find some really lovely ladies to swap buttons with. They all have such lovely blogs with great designs and wonderful pictures and content, I do hope you will pop by and visit them. Just click on the pictures above and it should take you straight to their blogs. I am hoping to change my buttons round a bit each month and do more button swaps in the future so if you have a blog that is a similar size to mine and you would like to swap buttons next month please do drop me a line or leave a comment and I'll get back to you.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend, happy blog browsing...

25 by 25

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:00:00 +0000

I have been working on my 25 by 25 list for a while now and I'm pretty sure this is the definitive version. I think I have reached a point where I need to stop trying to perfect my list and just start getting to work on some of the points. There is a lot to do and I have about a year and a half to do it all in but I am excited to give it all a try.

I have tried to include a mix of things, some are books I want to read or things I want to re-watch. Some are things I have done before but I would like to do again: visit Scotland, ride a horse, watch live music. Others will probably take more time to accomplish like freelancing part time, climbing Helvellyn and opening an Etsy shop but they are all things I would love to have a go at so I'm hoping that by putting them on my list I will be more inclined to strive to achieve them.

I have looked at other lists like this one that people have published on their blogs and I wanted to do the same. I have so many things I want to achieve and different things I would like to try and the list seemed like a good idea to organise myself, this way I have something tangible I can look at and check off.

Number 25 is a bit of a joke but since I put some time and effort in coming up with the list in the first place I thought it should be on there and in all honesty I thought I would probably abandon it way before I reached my 25 points. So I can cross it off right now...

Do you have a list? What would be on yours?

Meet Holly

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Last week I went on my first ever blogger meet up and arranged to meet my blogging friend Holly of Book, Art and Sci-fi. I can't quite remember how I first found Holly's blog but we have become quite good friends over the last few months and since she lives close by I suggested we meet up.

We met up in Preston for a day of shopping. The weather was lovely which was a nice change and we managed to take a few snaps in the park without feeling too self-conscious. I don't know how bloggers manage to take outfit pictures in public I would love to take more out and about pictures but it always seems odd for some reason. Does anyone else have this issue? Where do you take your blog pictures?

It is a strange experience to meet up with someone you have never met in person but to recognise them straight away and immediately get along. It helps that Holly is lovely of course and very easy to get along with. We has plenty to chat about and it was nice to have a browse around some shops, something I haven't actually done for a while. It was great to meet up with a fellow blogger as it can be difficult to talk about blogging with people who don't blog, there are some things that only a fellow blogger can sympathise with.

So I would say my first blogger meet up was a great success and I do hope to be able to meet up with Holly again sometime and also to go on other blogger meet ups in the future, it really is a great way to make new friends and it is always nice to get to know the people behind the blogs you love reading. Have you ever met up with another blogger in person?

Guest Post: How to Make Money with a Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Mon, 07 May 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Today I have a guest post which follows on from my last post about monitising. Dain writes about ways you can use your blog to make money. He runs a great blog called The Smart College Grad and you can read my guest post here.

Blog, blogging, blogger, and vlogging seem to be all over the internet right now. If you’ve been on the internet for any time now, it seems like a lot of people are making money with their blog. Making money with a blog can be hard to do. But once you understand the power of blog and how you can monetize it you’ll have cash rolling in fast. The first thing you need to do if you want to make money with your blog is to understand your blog is not simply a place where you post your thoughts, feelings, and ideas. It’s more than that. Blogs that actually make money are more than just blogs. They are a business. What is your business strategy going to be?

I’m going to take a look at a few different strategies that you can use to monetize your blog. Feel free to use any of them and in different combinations to earn the best results.

Google Adsense

I have to mention this one, but right off the back let me debunk it. Google adsense is where you have Google place small little ads on your website. Every time someone clicks on those ads you receive a small commission whether that’s .05 cents or .10 cents. Now everyone and their brother thinks that making money with a blog is through adsense. If anyone tells you that adsense is THE way to make money with a blog you need to promise me this: That you will slap them in the face. They don’t know what they’re talking about. I’m just kidding. But seriously, the only way to make serious money with Google Adsense is if you have A TON of traffic to your website. I’m talking hundreds of thousands to millions of visitors to your website. Let’s be honest. That’s just not going to happen. It’s EXTREMELY rare.

Instead of Google adsense, we’re going to look at some better options.

Banner Ads

Banner ads are usually seen on the right hand side, at the top, or bottom of the blog. The best way to go with banner ads is to different businesses and see if they would be willing to pay for a spot on your blog. If your content relates well enough to their business they may be willing to pay for this. Especially, if you have good and relevant content. I placed an ad on a blog of mine from a business who paid me $150 for a year. The company even reached out to me! And this was just one ad from a blog I haven’t touched in almost a year!

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is really the easiest way for someone just getting started to make a sizable income online. Affiliate marketing is where you promote other peoples products and then when someone buys the product you receive a commission. The commission can range anywhere from 10-75% depending on the product you are promoting. Personally, I think the “Empower Network” is the best product to be an affiliate because you receive a 100% commission. You can find out more about the empower network by clicking here. The way you can get started in affiliate marketing is to visit sites that host other people’s products. Clickbank.com is probably the most well known. I would suggest starting there and finding a product that relates to your blog and start promoting it.

Selling Something

The best way to make large amounts of money from your blog/website is selling your OWN products. You have more control by selling your own products and you can dictate the price. You can start selling products anywhere from $1.00-$1500 depending upon your niche and the demand for your product.

If you want to discover how to make $10,000 a month or more from your blog click here.

Monitising

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Thu, 03 May 2012 16:00:00 +0000

The decision to start trying to monitise their blog is one that will cross the minds of many bloggers at some point. It can be a sensitive and controversial topic and with so many options to choose from it can be a minefield trying to figure out which is the best option for you.

For many it is a case of maintaining your blog's identity and integrity while dealing with sponsored ads and posts. Some people are against making money from their blog which is perfectly valid. Personally I, and I am sure many others, wouldn't mind making a bit of extra pocket money from a hobby they love.

For me maintaining the values if my blog is important and I would never endorse something I didn't believe in or that I didn't think would be of value to my readers. I just hope this comes across in my writing, I would certainly disclose if something was sponsored and certainly give an honest opinion. I have indorsed many products on this blog for free, be it a shop or brand I love. It is something that many bloggers do on a daily basis and no-one is offering to pay us for it. So I don't see the harm in publishing a sponsored post from time to time as long as you are genuine and forthright about it.

In terms of ads I have never had Google Adsense ads on my blog nor do I plan on it. I would hope in the future to be able to offer paid ad spaces to shops and bloggers but that is probably a little further down the line. Really a blog is a great tool for making a little cash and many people turn it into a profitable sideline or even their main source of income. Of course making money doing something we love is a dream for many of us but it is the challenge of keeping the voice of our blog and staying true to your audience and readers.

What do you think about making money from your blog? Do you agree with it or not? Have you ever made any money from your blog? I would love to know your thoughts and experiences.

More Aztec Prints and a Leather Jacket

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Continuing with the Aztec theme from my last outfit post I wanted to show you all this lovely dress I bought from Etsy shop kay.em.kay. It is run by the lovely Kasey who made this dress for me, you can visit her blog here. I love the styles and fabrics of the vintage inspired dresses in her shop but I could never decide which one I wanted to get. When this Aztec beauty popped up I knew I had to get it. I must say, I love it, it is super soft and cosy, the colours are amazing and I think it is really flattering too.

If you follow me on Instagram or Twitter you might remember me posting a selection of leather jackets I was considering purchasing. The favourite was this Twist and Tango version but it was a little on the pricey side. Instead I came across this jacket from Peekaboo Vintage, very similar in style but a fraction of the price. It is made from recycled leather which I thought was pretty great, an ethical leather jacket, if such a thing exists.

You can now subscribe to my blog via email using the subscribe button in the sidebar. I'm hoping to be able to bring lots of great stuff to my subscribers including a free ebook I am working on, so if you think you might be interested sign up now and you will be able to follow my progress and be the first to read it.

Interview with Monica Leonelle

noreply@blogger.com (Cait) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:00:00 +0000

I am really excited to be interviewing Monica Leonelle today. Monica got in touch with me a while back to ask if I wanted to be part of her blog tour and help her promote her new novel Socialpunk. It sounded like a great opportunity and since getting to know a bit more about Monica and what she does I have found lots of great information and motivation about writing novels which has inspired me so much already, I can't wait to read her book. You can check out Monica's website here.

Can you tell the readers a little bit about your new book Socialpunk?

Socialpunk is a fast-paced thriller set in a future where everyone makes money through creating art. It's based a bit on my time working in digital marketing and has touches of social media that I think people in the biz will appreciate. There's also a ton of romance and a pretty awesome heroine, if I might say so!

Why did you decide to write and publish novels?

I've wanted to be an author since I was in third grade.

Can you explain a little bit about the process of writing a novel?

I'm a "burst of energy" type of person rather than a "little every day" type of person. So I will write a whole book in a week or two, then go back and edit it all in a week or two. And then I won't write as much for the next few weeks. On an average day I probably write a couple thousand words, during a book writing session I write closer to 5000 words a day.

I'm also a huge outliner. I will outline my entire book by chapter, then by scene, then by paragraph. I think this is essential for writing an addictive book or a "page-turner." It's also essential for writing a ton of words very quickly. When I edit, I have a list of about 20 things I edit for that pertain to marketing psychology. For example, one of the things I edit for is tension, or whether I'm opening and closing plots in every scene. I think most writers would do better in the marketplace if they edited for marketability. Yes, line editing and beautiful prose can help, but really, The Hunger Games isn't exactly great writing. Yet the books are an international phenomenon. Because it's a great story with lots of marketability.

I'm an editor myself (specializing in the marketability of books) and I'm really big on creating fascinating hooks. If you are a writer you can find out if your first 1000 words are hooking here.

How do you stay inspired and motivated?

I wouldn't say any one thing helps me stay inspired, because that doesn't create anything new. You create new things by combining inspirations from all sorts of different sources and then adding your own touch or twist. But if you want to be inspired, you should expose yourself to all sorts of media—books, television, movies, radio, art museums, you name it. If you are writing one book you should consume at least ten books, ten movies, ten TV shows, ten songs, etc. to prepare. It doesn't matter if they are related or not—in fact, the more diverse, the better. And how much fun is it that I just told you to watch TV in order to do work? You're welcome for that.

Motivation comes from actually wanting to be an author. So many people don't enjoy the writing process but just want a book out. People who love to write don't need much motivation to do it; they just can't help themselves.

What are your top tips for anyone wanting to start writing a novel?

Start writing it. And read my Prose on Fire dispatch. You can grab it here.