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THREE STEPS TO RESET YOUR LIFE AFTER A BUSY WORK PERIOD

So you’ve come out the other side. Now What? Time to reset your life.

You know those periods where you’re literally all consumed in work, every waking second of everyday, totally and utterly dedicated to getting shit done. Yeah those. Well i’ve just come out the other side of one. And boy does it feel good, but truth be told, i’m barely human after the lack of sleep and all consuming work thoughts.

In my line of work, we often have periods of 4-6 weeks where we’re pitching for new business or delivering on a high profile project, in these weeks work becomes a 7am – 11pm affair, weekends are spent in the office preparing and general life just gets put on hold a bit, and you only really see from the front door to your bedroom for a few days. I thrive off of these projects so I wouldnt change the experience or opportunities they bring, but what’s essential is that once I’ve come out the other side I spend some time getting my shit back in order. You know, actually wash my hair, clean my flat, do the washing, reply to all those emails i’ve been ignoring, actually say hello to friends and family, let alone spend some time with Jase.

It’s really important that you take the time to reset your life after a busy work period, spend time getting your life back in order, and generally kick start your routine. So today I thought i’d share the three steps I’ll be following, to reset myself after my crazy work projects which I have been delivering in the last couple of weeks.

THREE STEPS TO HELP YOU RESET YOUR LIFE AFTER A BUSY WORK PERIOD

[one_third padding=”0 5px 0 0″]1. TIME

After an all consuming work period, you need to spend some time getting your life back in order, and I genuinely believe taking a day off work is critical in doing that. By the time the weekend comes you want to be feeling settled, back to normal and refreshed ready to have fun & spend time actually LIVING. My recommendation is to book a day off work or used accrued hours to have a day to yourself just getting your life back in order. It’s amazing how admin builds up, so having a day just to sort things out is really helpful. For me this is the time I can tidy my house, catch up with my blog and emails, reply to all those messages I’ve not had time to look at.

[/one_third][one_third padding=”0 5px 0 0″]2. REST

Living off 5 hours sleep might work for some, but or me it really doesn’t. Pitches and big work projects can be really tiresome, and so it’s important to me that after these periods I get some proper rest. From a relaxing bath, to an early night, to that well deserved lie in. After a really busy period, you just need some R&R time. I always ensure that post a busy work period, that my weekend is super chilled and relaxing or if I’m feeling a little flush, booking myself in for a massage or a spa is a lovely treat. Whatever it takes to get your body rested, do it, because if you don’t give yourself time to rest and recuperate, you’ll just end up feeling constantly run down.

[/one_third][one_third_last padding=”0 0px 0 5px”]3. HEALTH

Take outs, lack of exercise, late nights, tons of coffee, too many sweets. During busy work periods, your day to day routine tends to go out the window. Dinners are usually scoffed down at your desk or worse at midnight when you get in from work, there’s no time to prepare healthy, fresh and nutritious food, so takeaways become common form & the gym becomes a long lost memory. It’s fine for a short while, but post these crazy periods, it’s key to get your normal routine back in action as soon as possible. Stock up on fresh food, book in a couple of gym classes, and just get outdoors and enjoy some daylight …

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And right now i’m doing just that. Today i’m working from home, allowing me a small lie in, time to put the washing on and tidy the house in between conference calls and responding to emails, and some time to catch up on mediamarmalade which has been a little neglected this week. Tonight is going to be a super chilled night in with Jase, a healthy and delicious home cooked dinner with a movie. And the weekend is going to be spent barbecuing in the country side with our friends. Nothing crazy, just a low key chilled out weekend. Exactly what the doctor ordered.

Do you ever go through work periods like this too? How do you recover after them? Do you like me need to take some time back, get well needed rest and kick start your healthy living routine?

August 19, 2016
HOW TO INCREASE ENGAGEMENT WITH YOUR BLOG CONTENT

HOW TO INCREASE ENGAGEMENT WITH YOUR BLOG CONTENT

I talk a lot about growing your blog, my experiences on what works, what doesn’t, but the focus has largely been on traffic, views or general reach. These are all super important and definitely factors that affect and can boost the success of your blog but there’s more to it than that. In this day n age it’s easy for people to click on a piece of content, give it a glance and barely even get to the bottom of a feature. I personally am an avid blog reader and I always use my commute to catch up and evenings to read my favourite bloggers content. But there’s so much to consume, so much choice out there, that dedicating time to one or two pieces is something that’s become a little more rare. So gaining and achieving engagement with your content has never been more important.

It’s engagement with content in my view which really shows your value, especially to brands who are seeking a platform to share their own messages. What’s more valuable – 100k hits a day but 10 seconds spent ‘engaging’ with the entire feature, or 40k but an average time of 4.5 minutes engaging with the content (and probably a stronger CTR to boot).

What I’m saying is it’s not all about the traffic, a loyal and extremely engaged reader base in itself is one of the most valuable things. You don’t have to be getting more hits than buzz feed to have success, commercial success at that too.

But how to drive and build engagement? That’s what today’s post is all about. Quite undeliberately this year I’ve doubled my average time spent on my blog (and that was from an already strong and above average base), in some instances on some days it’s 4 X as long, I’ve reduced my bounce rate, boosted my page per sessions and rather heart warmingly (it really makes my day) I’ve seen a huge increase in people sharing my content and the likes it receives on the likes of bloglovin too.

These things don’t and haven’t necessarily affected the ‘volume’ of traffic I get in the same way (I’ve definitely seen small and stead increases, I can only dream of 4 X the traffic – one day), but what they show is that I’ve really boosted the engagement of my blog. And that in itself is a huge success and genuinely makes blogging feel all the more worthwhile.

Whilst I’ve done this without actually setting out to achieve such results, looking back it’s clear how what I have been doing has increased engagement. So I thought I’d share those things with you today.

HOW TO INCREASE ENGAGEMENT WITH YOUR BLOG CONTENT

Quality consistently

I’ve always blogged daily and I’ve always tried my best to make each feature interesting and enjoyable to read, but having said that, there were times when I blogged and didn’t necessarily deliver the quality I would have hoped for, and there were times when the quality of my imagery wasn’t quite as I would have hoped, normally because I simply didn’t have time and I was stretching myself too thin. But towards the end of 2015 and in 2016 so far I’ve been making a huge effort to create a much better work life balance for myself, and with that comes more time to focus on my blog, my content and my brand itself. And most importantly ensuring that the quality is consistently delivered in every single feature I produce, with everything from the creativity, the imagery and the editorial really being pushed to the best it can be – even a simple point of merging a style feature with a tips editorial has really upped the quality of the features I produce.

TIP: Focus on quality over quantity, produce content that you want to read, and you would feel inspired by. Constantly feed your creativity, and carve your own niche.

Content that adds value

I feel like I’ve really defined my niche in the last 6 months, everything I write about is something I’m incredibly passionate about which I hope will either inform, inspire or motivate you and your own life, but beyond that I’m working on creating imagery and style shots that hopefully inspire you too.

Mediamarmalade is a destination for the stylish, the ambitious and the passionate. It’s a hub of daily inspiration, motivational content and advice and tips for those of us on a journey to sartorial, life and career success.

I’ve shifted from daily outfits to a hub of daily content that aims to inspire, inform and motivate, covering everything from careers & blogging advice, to personal style and travel. Everything I post ladders back to my mission statement, and I’ve been working to make every post as quality as the last. It’s what I’m passionate about, it reflects my real life which ultimately is a case of juggling a full time career and a full time blog, and hopefully it’s topics and subjects that resonate with your lives too. Really it’s about content that adds value, to you, and to me too.

TIP: Produce content your passionate about, but always try and add value to your readers too. Make there visit to your site worthwhile? Make them want to come in he first place.

Make it easy

If you want people to take the time to read your content, it needs to be available, it needs to be easy, and it needs to be pain free (no 5 minute load times). It’s important that your content is easily accessible, easily readable and easily findable for your readers – simple things like a mobile enabled site, sharing your features on Facebook and twitter, joining bloglovin so people can read your content within that platform, and even simple things like making sure the fonts are eligible. All of these functional points make an impact on the time people will spend engaging with you.

TIP: Make sure your site is mobile enabled & be sure to share your content across all your social channels – adapting it based on the platform & how people prefer to use it.

Responding to comments

Engagement doesn’t just come from your readers, it needs to come from you too. Last year I really struggled to maintain my social channels, deliver daily content on my blog AND engage with the blogging community and the readers of my blog. It wasn’t a deliberate thing, I just simply didn’t have time to do more than produce content. But as we all know, that’s not what the blogging industry is about, I started to lose those connections I had with my readers, I missed blog chats & general twitter conversations with my blogging friends, I lost out on instagram because I didn’t spend time engaging with people who were taking the time to like or comment. I have to say, I noticed the affect, not just on my own morale, but on my blog too.

This year, in line with my new resolutions I’m spending far more time doing the things that make me happy, and as a result spending far more time engaging with you guys. I try and reply to comments as often as possible, I always thank and share comments and messages (because I’m genuinely grateful) and generally have tried to be far more active in the community.It’s certainly made a difference to my morale.

TIP: Be sure to respond to comments, tweets, and conversations on your blog and social channels. Building strong relationships is at the heart of engagement … so don’t forget the value of your network.

Personality & honesty

Last year was clearly a turning point for me, by the end of last year I felt totally disheartened by my blog. I’d not been able to spend the time or energy I had wanted on it, I relaunched my site and felt like it went totally missed, and I just felt like I was falling backwards rather than moving forward with other bloggers who were becoming huge successes. I found myself feeling down on myself, comparing myself negatively to others & generally just so disheartened that all my efforts seemed to be wasted.

I took three weeks off work at Christmas to recover from a crazy year and it was exactly what I needed, it helped me focus, get my mojo back & generally boost my positivity and confidence. And you know what, I was honest about it, I shared my highs and lows with you, I started talking about my feelings more, I really ramped up my tips posts features which I had started in 2014, but now were something I really wanted to write about, to help and guide myself as much as to help and guide you. I think this personality and honesty was something that helped people feel more engaged with me, but equally you guys responded, and I felt far more engaged with you too.

TIP: Personality, integrity and honesty is what makes a blog successful and original, don’t be afraid to let it all out sometimes. More people will relate than you realise.

Links and further information

Historically the life of my blog content was pretty much one day. I always felt sad posting daily and almost wiping away the day before’s content … silly really, but I felt like they never got the air time they might have deserved. These days I’m far more savvy, and within all my features I always try and share other relevant articles, blog features or videos that might add value to you beyond what I’ve written in that one post. For example, at the end of this feature today, I’ve added some links to other features I have written about blog success & how to grow and measure your success which I think you’ll find helpful an further context to today’s post. Being helpful is something I believe drives engagement.

TIP: Be helpful, provide links to shop looks, provide links to further information, share other content that might be interesting. Link wisely.

Asking meaningful questions

I’ve always asked questions in my features, but to be fair they’ve always been a bit boring and not really the most exciting question for you guys to respond to (do you like midi skirts? – who cares), these days, and very much in line with my content shift, the questions I ask are far more meaningful, they are interesting and they’re genuine … I want to know if you’ve experienced the same situaiton, I want to know what you would do, I want to know your advice. I love seeing all your comments telling me your own stories or how my posts have helped.

TIP: Engage with your readers, if you want them to engage with you.

Sharing & likes

AND FINALLY. Engagement can mean anything from comments, to likes, to shares, and so being fully set up for ‘engagement’ is pretty key, ensure you have a comments space that’s easy to use, provide share buttons (mine are the blue ones below), work with people like bloglovin so people can like your posts. And more than anything … be grateful & acknowledged people who take the time to engage. I’ve seen a real increase in people retweeting my content (thank you SO much) and i’m always sure to thank and share their tweet because it’s people like that, those people willing to engage and share your features, that ultimately help your blog grow.

TIP: Ensure your blog is set up for engagement, with share buttons, comment functions … and don’t forget to say thank you to those who do engage!

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. WAREHOUSE SHIRT . ASOS FARLEIGH JEANS . CHLOE HAYLEY . ZARA SUEDE BOOTS . KAREN WALKER SUNNIES .

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And there you have it, I rather honest account of my last 18 months of blogging but hopefully some tips and learnings that might help you and your own blogging journey. I think it’s important we remember it’s not all about subscribers and page views, it’s engagement that really defines how valuable your content is to your readers. So whether you get 1k, 10k, 100k, 1,000k views a month, it doesn’t matter, focus on adding value and truly engaging with your readers, it’s rewarding.

YOU MIGHT ALSO FIND THESE POSTS HELPFUL

. HOW TO MAKE YOUR CONTENT BETTER . 5 WAYS TO MAXIMISE YOUR CONTENT . WHAT MAKES CONTENT GOOD . 5 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR CONTENT . HOW TO KEEP YOUR CONTENT FLOWING . HOW TO MEASURE SUCCESS . WHAT IS BLOG SUCCESS . WHAT MAKES A BLOG SUCCESSFUL . WHY YOU SHOULD STOP COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHERS . 3 REASONS YOUR BLOG WILL SUCCEED . 3 MORE REASONS YOUR BLOG WILL SUCCEED . HOW TO KEEP ORGANISED AND INSPIRED . HOW TO JUGGLE WORK & BLOGGING MORE EFFICIENTLY . TOP TIPS FOR YOUR SUMMER BLOG SCHEDULE . HOW TO MASTER BLOG SCHEDULING . HOW TO GET AHEAD WITH YOUR BLOG . 5 TIPS TO UP YOUR BLOG MOTIVATION . 5 TIPS TO HELP YOU MASTER ORGANISATION . HOW TO KEEP YOUR BLOG RUNNING WHEN YOU’RE ON HOLIDAY . HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR PRODUCTIVITY . HOW TO KEEP YOUR BLOG CONTENT FLOWING . 5 WAYS TO GET MORE BLOG IDEAS. AND TURN THEM INTO REAL CONTENT . HOW TO CREATE A BLOGGING SPACE AT HOME .

Did you find today’s post helpful? I’d love to hear your tips or experience on the matter – how do you drive engagement with your readers and your own blog?

March 9, 2016
HOW TO MAKE YOUR DAILY COMMUTE MORE MINDFUL

HOW TO USE YOUR COMMUTE TO BECOME MORE MINDFUL. IT’S POSSIBLE I PROMISE.

2016 has been a bit of a revolution for me so far. I’ve got my work life balance back in check after a rather difficult 2015, I’ve created a fitness habit which I so desperately needed (currently using my Monday & Tuesday lunch times for a regular Pilates & body pump class, but hoping to get my weekly netball back on the schedule too), I seem to have tackled my weekly migraines and reduced these down to one a month (probably thanks to less stress & looking after myself better), and more than that I’ve started to take back control of my life and my time by practising #NotSorry religiously. These changes are not fads, they’re lifestyle changes which I promised myself at the end of 2015 that I would put in motion. I wanted to get my wellness back in line, and in turn become a little more mindful (I even wrote a feature on how to be more mindful).

Mindfulness and wellness are two things that really hit the Zeitgeist radar in 2015, and for good reason. As a career driven, time limited, always busy, perfection seeking female, I often find myself overworked, overwhelmed with stress & with no time to spend properly looking after myself … and so the rise in awareness of well-being and mindfulness is something I have really welcomed, can appreciate and want to strive towards.

But I get it, time isn’t limitless, and so finding time to practice mindfulness and live a well life can be tricky. But I’ve found an easy way to dedicate 20-40 minutes twice a day to being a little more mindful. And that’s your commute. It’s typically the least peaceful and relaxing part of most commuters day, but actually it has the potential to be a little sanctuary time. So today I thought I’d share how …

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Mindfulness (NOUN): a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.

#1 POD CASTS

The hustle and bustle of a packed train, tube or bus can be a little stress inducing I know, but finding a way to escape on that journey, and potentially learn something at the same time is not a bad way to maximise your time, and practice a little mindfulness on route. There are tons of podcasts available out there, and tons designed to aid mindfulness too … as a starter for 10 why not try the TED talks as a way to inspire you on your commute?

#2 READ

My favourite way to relax & focus on my inner ‘calm’ on my commute is to read. Currently I’m reading all about Sarah Knights #NotSorry theory which I absolutely love (and am practising religiously in 2016 as I mentioned), but a good chic lit or even a motivational novel like Arianna Huffington Thrive, or a mindfulness journal which you can write on your way to work (try the Kikki.K mindfulness journal) is a great way to practice mindfulness on your otherwise hot, sweaty, stressful commute.

#3 MEDITATE

Have you tried Headspace yet? If not, get it. 10, 15, 20, 60 minute meditation pod casts to help you practice mindfulness in a really simple, easy to use app. It’s genius. When I was suffering badly from my migraines last year I started using the app to try and help me relax my mind. But it’s a great way to get some good use out of your commute (and don’t worry there’s no Buddha posing required, you can simply listen along sitting or standing).

#4 FUEL RIGHT

Whilst women eating on the tube is clearly a huge social issue (jeez guys), I suggest we ignore the haters and start using our commute to fuel our body (and our minds) ready for the day ahead! Prepare yourself a fresh, energy boosting juice, a healthy breaky and savour every minute of the tasty experience. Rather than rush it all before leaving the house, use that 40 minutes on the train to start your day properly. And if possible … don’t multi task. Simply focus on eating & enjoying your meal.

#5 TAKE THE SCENIC ROUTE

For me the best way to ‘be in the moment’, feel calm & relaxed and also to connect with my mind & work through all the thoughts that are buzzing around is to be out in the open … whether that’s running, cycling, scooting (I can’t believe how many middle age Londoners scoot to work these days – YOLO) or simply walking. Being in the fresh air and physically active is a great way of feeling connected and in turn a great way to boost your mindfulness.

Mindfulness doesn’t have to be a big thing, nor a thing that takes tons of time from your life, it’s just about allowing yourself moments to stop, breathe, reconnect & embrace the moment.

OTHER FEATURES YOU MIND FIND INTERESTING:

. HOW TO BE MORE MINDFUL . 5 EVERYDAY ESCAPISMS . HOW TO HAVE A DIGITAL DETOX . 5 TIPS TO HELP YOU HAVE A POSITIVE DAY .10 MORNING TIPS TO START YOUR DAY RIGHT .THREE LIFE CHANGING BOOKS YOU NEED TO READ NOW . #NOTSORRY THEORY . HOW TO GET YOUR WORK LIFE BALANCE BACK . 5 TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR DAY .HOW TO DEAL WITH STRESS .

. ZARA TRENCH COAT (OLD) . MADEWELL JEANS . CHLOE HAYLEY . RUSSELL & BROMLEY LOAFERS . WHISTLES TEE .

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Oh … as for the look. A classic trench will never go out of fashion, this Zara one is a firm staple the third year running. Don’t you agree?

How do you maximise your commute to work? Are you a believer in mindfulness, how do you practice being mindful in your day to day life?

February 19, 2016
WINTER OFFICE STYLE

OFFICE STYLE NOW & NEXT

Today marks my return to work, pyjamas and cashmere socks are to be tucked away, and my normal wardrobe put back into action. Having said that, I’ll be easing myself back into workwear gently, with comfort & cosiness as the priority. Skinny jeans, pointed leather boots & a classic cream knit jumper, of course finished off with my long wool coat, the perfect chic office outerwear in my opinion.

Although i’m easing myself in gently, if i’m honest, I’m really hoping to pump up my style a little this year (work wise and in general), having more confidence in myself to wear the looks I want, and of course taking a little more care of myself so that I look good too. I’ve found myself loving oversized garments this last few months, partly because I love the laid back scandi inspired style, but also because i’ve wanted to cover up. 2016 is time to give up the cover up, and get into a happy, content and confident place.

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. WHISTLES WOOL COAT . RAG & BONE KNIT JUMPER . MADEWELL SKINNY JEANS . KURT GEIGER BOOTS . REISS FEDORA . CELINE NANO .

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It’s not only a case of easing myself back into workwear, but work itself. I’ve had such a well needed break this Christmas, that the prospect of getting straight back into the ‘day to day’ is going to be a shock to my system. But a fresh start was what I needed and as you will know from my resolution & #NotSorry editorial features this last week, I’m planning on making 2016 a year of positive change, better work life balance, more time spent on ‘me’ and my life, and generally just a slightly healthier lifestyle. And it all starts today … there’s no time like the now.

How have you adjusted back into work mode?

January 11, 2016
HOW TO CREATE GOOD HABITS & MAKE THEM STICK

MAKE NEW HABITS. MAKE THEM STICK.

Tomorrow is my official start to 2016. It’s my return to work after a long Christmas and New Years break, and it’s the moment I’ll start to put my New Years resolutions and blog goals into action. For me 2016 is all about positive change, but most importantly It’s change that sticks.

For me, my resolutions and goals aren’t short term targets, they’re longer term, more lifestyle based ambitions, and that means forming new positive habits, and making them stick too. In many ways I’m really good at creating habits and routines and committing to them with discipline (blogging for example), but in other ways i’m useless, if my brain isn’t fully committed or engaged, I just won’t stick to it. This year I have a few resolutions which will require that commitment to make them work, getting my health & fitness on track, redefining my work-life balance, and generally just living a little more #NotSorry.

So today I thought i’d share 5 ways that will not only help you (and me) create good habits, but also to make them stick too.

5 WAYS TO HELP YOU CREATE POSITIVE LIFE CHANGES

#1 Motivation

First things first, I think to form a new habit and make life changes (as opposed to fad or short term changes) you need to be motivated. It’s no good trying to force yourself to create change or to work towards something unless you really want to, unless you feel passionate about it and unless you feel motivated. It’s amazing how the mind can spur you on, or slow you down when you’re trying to achieve something.

#2 Small Steps

More often than not, we fail at forming new positive habits because we’ve overwhelmed ourselves by the task in hand. I find the best way to make change is to make it slowly, start with small steps that over time will help you ladder up to your over all goal. For example if you want to lose weight or tone up, rather than give yourself a mammoth target, start with a few small changes (like adding a fitness class to your weekly schedule & cutting out that 11am snack), you’ll find the process so much easier and the results will shine in no time at all.

#3 Don’t over commit

Closely linked to taking small steps, is also not to over commit. Namely that means don’t take on so much that you don’t give yourself the time or the chance to form these new habits. Ensure you free up time in your diary to give yourself the opportunity to do new things, to settle in your new habits & to take on these new positive life changes. Often sacrifice is required, so be prepared to make the change.

#4 Make it fun

If you want to form new habits & create positive change, then you have to make it fun. Life should be enjoyable and you should fill it with things that make you content and happy. So if you’re trying to form new habits, make the process fun, you’re far more likely to stick to it & enjoy it too. Back to the fitness analogy, weight loss doesn’t need to be a restrictive, dull and socially awkward diet, exercise and healthy eating can be really fun. Mix things up, keep it fresh & work out a way to make it enjoyable for you.

#5 Positive reinforcement

And an important point to finish on. Positive reinforcement. For me, motivation is fed by achievement. The better I do, the more achieve, the more spurred on I feel to keep going, to do more, and to try harder. Set yourself small goals, with small steps, and be sure to congratulate and reward yourself when you achieve at each stage.

Positive reinforcement is key to forming new, long lasting habits.

Did you find these tips helpful at all? What tips do you have to help me form positive new habits … and of course make them stick too.

January 10, 2016
SNOW BABY

SNOW BABY

If you follow me on instagram then you’ll have noticed that I delayed the return to work by a week in favour of some fresh snow, skiing & far too much mountain food. We go to Val D’isere every year and have done ever since I was a little tot. It’s always a great week spent tiring ourselves out on the slopes, and recovering in a cosy chalet, in front of a fire with great food & all my favourite cosy winter warmers.

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. TOPSHOP SHEARLING & DENIM JACKET . COS JUMPER DRESS . UGG BOOTS . WOOLY HAT .

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We’ve had a fresh snow fall almost daily, and so my winter wardrobe is certainly getting its wear now. Ironically (/ frustratingly) I actually didn’t pack my favourite fur Gilet which would have been absolutely ideal in these conditions, but I did bring along my new Toyshop denim and shearling lined jacket, which was a Christmas present from Jase’s parents. I fell in love with the jacket as soon as I spotted it in store, and actually think it’ll make a fab all season jacket. For these nippy climates i’ve thrown it on with my COS knit dress and of course my UGG boots which i live in when i’m skiing. Cosy toes are the priority.

I’m making the most of the downtime before my return to work next week, and in reality the proper start of 2016 for me. I’ll be heading back to start a new challenge, kick start all my new years resolutions & blog goals i’ve set myself, including getting a better grip on my wellbeing.

If you missed yesterdays post all about getting more happy, less stressed and enjoying life more then I’d love you to go and check it out. It pretty much sums up my ambitions for 2016.

January 7, 2016
MY 2016 BLOG GOALS

MY 2016 BLOG GOALS

As I mentioned in my new years resolutions post here, this year as always, I’ll be setting myself some blog specific goals for myself in 2016.

When I started my blog back in 2011 it was purely a hobby, but as the years have gone on it’s become so much more than that, it’s my pride and joy, a brand, a business and something I channel all of much passion & efforts into. Whilst I do have a full time career too (i’m a communications strategy consultant), I do work super super hard on my blog to produce content that you enjoy or feel inspired by, to create imagery & visuals that bring my editorials to life, and to post daily so that you always have something new waiting for you, so that one day perhaps, when the time is right to take the risk & make the sacrifice, this could be my sole career.

And so with the drive, passion & dedication I’ve always had with my little blog (without it I don’t know how I would have blogged everyday for over 4 years), i’ll be jumping into 2o16 full of ambition & motivation to make this year, be the year my little blog flourishes into something even bigger & better.

MY GOALS & BLOGGING RESOLUTIONS FOR 2016

#1 ATTEND EVENTS

Juggling a full time career and a full time blog means I often struggle for time. In 2015 work took even more of my time up than usual, and it meant I missed so many meeting, work, events and travel opportunities. In 2016 I want to prioritise more of my time to the blogging business, and that means starting with ensuring I attend more of the events i’m invited to. I know the importance of events not just for the fun but also for the networking opportunity, and so If I want my blog to flourish this year, events & meetings will be key.

#2 JOIN THE COMMUNITY

When I started blogging I absolutely loved the community, talking to you all on a daily basis, sharing my life & stories, having your support for the content I produce, and in turn me sharing my love for you all back. Whilst I still engage with you all when I can, I want to do more, I want to get to know you more & I want to spend more time meeting you all, talking with you all and sharing the experience & this crazy journey with you. So in 2016 I want to get more involved in the community, in real life at events, parties & perhaps for work, but also online too.

#3 COLLABORATE

I’ve had the opportunity to work with some incredible brands this year, I’ve ben signed to a network which felt like a huge achievement and i’m proud of the work and content i’ve produced as part of these collaborations. in 2016 I really want to push this even further. I’ve never been one to proactively seek blogging work (I simply don’t have time) but If I want to grow this little www dot in the future, then it’s probably about time I started. I really hope 2016 will be the year my portfolio grows considerably, and that i’ll continue to work with some of the best British and Global brands.

#4 CREATIVITY & PHOTOGRAPHY

One of the things I love so much about blogging and about producing content for mediamarmade is the photography and the creativity involved in creating an editorial. For the first few years of blogging my creativity was quite consistent, but last year I really tried to up my game, create features that were more unique, upgrade my photography style so it felt more exciting, editorial like & generally just more enjoyable for you guys to read. In 2016 I want to push this even further and really up my creativity here on mediamarmalade.com but also on my social channels, in particular my instagram which is one area i’d really love to see grow in 2016 (so please do follow along if you haven’t already).

#5 QUALITY OVER QUANTITY

My final resolution or goal is something I’ve genuinely been thinking about for the last couple of years, and ties in quite nicely with my push towards creativity & more unique quality editorials, and that’s quality over quantity. Since I started my blog i’ve ensured that everyday there’s new content waiting for you on here, but not only has that put enormous pressure on myself to produce content daily (whilst working full time too) but it’s also meant that sometimes my content doesn’t get the airtime perhaps it deserves, as a new post quickly replaces it. So with my ambition of making every post on here something super special, I have been debating changing up my content frequency, perhaps blogging 5 days a week instead of 7, and in turn ensuring every post is unique, original, creative & hopefully super enjoyable for you guys.

I’d love to know your thoughts on this one? Do you enjoy the daily features, or do you think quality over quantity might be a good idea in 2016?

In 2016 I really want my blog & brand to grow even more, to flourish & my hard work and dedication to create content daily to really pay off. I’d love more people to discover my content, i’d love more brands to get involved, and i’d love all of you incredible people to stick along for the journey.

I’d love to know what you think of media marmalade, what content you enjoy, what content you want to see more of? And of course I’d love to hear about your own blogging journey & goals for the year ahead too?

January 2, 2016
MY 5 FITNESS GOALS

. MY 5 FITNESS GOALS .

I wrote in a post a little while ago that I was embarking on a little bit of a health kick (you can read the post here), but in all honesty I haven’t done all that well in the last few months, whilst i’ve been juicing every now and then, I have to admit my quest to get fit has been pretty lack lustre. But with a holiday and bikini doom day 6 weeks away, I thought it really was about time that I started to get my butt in gear and get fitness back into my life, for good.

So I thought it was about time I took my own advice, and started to get fit, get healthy & most of all get going with it! Today’s post is sort of a little resolution post … it may be May, but it’s never too late to set yourself resolutions.

#1 DRINK MORE WATER

First of all, I need to drink more water. I’m absolutely terrible at drinking enough water and it really affects me, most of all it hinders my migraines which are bad enough without dehydration playing a part too. I’ve always struggled to drink enough, but I really want to make a concerted effort to drink more now, not only to keep me healthy, but also for skin and hair hydration too.

2 litres a day, here I come.

#2 PILATES

A couple of years ago I became obsessed with pilates, I did it multiple times a week and would never miss my classes. I found it did absolute wonders for my posture (I really struggle with tight shoulders and back pain, and pilates helped a lot) and really helped build my core and generally tone me up! I loved tempo pilates which I felt worked my muscles a lot more than the likes of yoga or standard pilates. So as of tomorrow morning, i’ve decided to sign back up, bite the bullet and quit the excuses. Pilates here I come.

# 3 GET SPINNING

God I hate spin. Really I do. The amount of classes i’ve left feeling like i’m going to vomit is madness, but there’s one thing for sure, it sure as hell gets you fit. And I think it’s about time I got my heart rate going, and so along with my pilates classes i’m going to give spin another go, and more than that, get back on my bike. I used to cycle a lot, just pottering around and cycling to the shops, and now the weather is finally starting to perk up I want to get back into this. I love cycling and I seriously love my bike (it’s a pink Pashli), so it’s about time I stopped being so lazy and got back out there!

#4 MORE HOME MADE

Now whilst my fitness has been a bit lack lustre of late, generally speaking I am quite a healthy eater and always look to make home made goodness whenever I can. But beyond just home made meals, I want to ensure those home made meals are super healthy and cut out the things that make me poorly (I’m gluten intolerant, but sometimes don’t really cut out al the things I should). Deliciously Ella, Hemsley & Hemsley as well as a ton of other healthy food books I’ve bought are jam packed full of delicious and healthy recipes, for every meal of the day. Whilst I use these recipe books for dinner already, i’m going to start making healthy packed lunches and energy boosting breakfasts so that I have healthy food at hand 24 / 7!

In fact I’m actually heading to Shoreditch House for a Q&A with Deliciously Ella tomorrow, so i’ll be sure to get lots of tips to help me on my way.

#5 LIVING THE 80:20 WAY

A few years ago I really lived my life by the 80:20 rule. Back then I didn’t know what this was, and to be honest I didn’t really do it deliberately, but looking back I can see that Monday – Friday I was pretty healthy, super active & generally ‘good’ when it came to eating, but come the weekend I totally let go, did what I wanted, ate what I wanted and indulged a little. Actually this way of living really worked well for me, it meant I was active and healthy, but never restricted myself and still got to enjoy my favourite treats and chill out on the weekend.

Since Jase and I moved in together, this has kind of fallen by the wayside, and I really want to get back in control! So, whilst i’m definitely not about to embark on a diet, I am going to start to control my diet and exercised a little more during the week, and save the indulgence (Pic N Mix is my absolute weakness) for the weekend.

And there we have it, my 5 little fitness resolutions, nothing major, but I know these things really help me have a healthier and fitter lifestyle.

I’d love to hear about the things you do to keep fit, keep healthy & stay active? Do you have any regular exercise classes you love or a routine you live by?

May 10, 2015
THE DENIM DRESS

. TOPSHOP DENIM DRESS .

Guess what, today’s outfit features yet another denim dress. I’m sorry, my blog is becoming a sartorial broken record isn’t it? Although, in fairness, this dress is slightly different to the last. More of a typical denim number, 70’s inspired and quite the basic wear really. Secondly, it’s really not my fault that this infatuation has occurred, we all know Alexa Chung is responsible, there’s no denying her AC x AG denim collection has literally sent the fashion world shit crazy for denim! This denim dress was another number I picked up from Topshop on my mini spree, it’s actually quite a thin denim dress, and since purchasing it, i’ve found another number which really does tick my boxes a little more than this particular one … this utility denim shirt dress really is perfect.

. TOPSHOP DENIM DRESS . WHISTLES LOAFERS . MISSGUIDED COAT . REISS FEDORA .

[show_shopthepost_widget id=”611406″]

Having said all that, it really is time that I started to be a little more careful with my pennies, spending a little more sensibly and cutting back on my frequent spontaneous purchases. Whilst I love to treat myself to a new dress every now and then, I really should start to be a little more selective and rather than buy 4 of 5 things each month, save up and buy myself one perfect item! It’s something I said i’d do as part of my New Years resolutions, and is something that i’ve been encouraged back into by TSB’s latest campaign encouraging sensible and responsible saving and spending (even more pertinent given the ‘Budgets’ have just been announced & we’re all starting to think about where our pennies are going)! I also really want to buy my own house soon, and so cutting back on a few of my naughty treats will soon add up and really help me get my foot on the property ladder (I hope). I definitely won’t be cutting out all spending (that would just be mean), but it’s just a concerted effort to be a little more careful and pragmatic with my purchases, even a few small cuts will probably save me £200 a month!

Are you a frivolous shopper like me, or are you a little more sensible with your spending? I’d love to hear how you manage shopping versus saving (I need all the tips I can get)!

March 19, 2015

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