Weekly I share a recap of the week. This time I'm sharing the past 2 weeks! Enjoy.
Personal Blogs--I believe that my blog caters to more than the beauty-obsessed, and I've worked actively on growing my readership. I've tried to sincerely befriend a number of personal blogs, but it's like pulling teeth to get them to stop by. I usually just get an email response to my visits. While appreciated, I'd love for them to stop by too. What's the secret, bloggers?
Technical Difficulties--I stayed up til midnight editing my Happy Holidays tag. It was at 99% and then crashed! It took three times! Luckily, Santa brought me an external hard drive and that has helped some.
Christmas Story-- This is my favorite Christmas movie and I was overruled this year as Elf won out to be the movie of the day. It was my first Christmas in forever that I didn't get to watch it!
Argh--Disclaimer: This was totally written with PMS-attitude last week, but in an effort to be real, I'm keeping it in. I can't stand when people can't figure things out for themselves--I'm talking problems that are easy. Take a second to think about how to solve the problem yourself. Google is an amazing thing. Your brain is too. (Ooh, I was cranky last week! Onto the Raves!)
Raves:
Where'd You Go, Bernadette? Read this book in a few hours and loved it. I'm looking for new books!
Movie fests: The Great Gatsby (liked it, but it was ok), Meet The Millers (or whatever it's called...meh), Now You See Me (it was ok), and Dallas Buyer's Club (really good)
Christmas around the world, on Instagram--I absolutely LOVED Christmas Around the World projects as a kid. And as an adult, I get to see how you celebrate (or didn't) on Instagram. I loved it!
Blogging break--My original plan was to blog every day this month, but I made myself take a break, and you know what? It was fine. I still have thousands of ideas I wanna make/do/film/write, but they'll have to wait until next year. Is there something you'd like to see?
Naked 3 Palette--I got it, hooray!! I've been wearing it every day.
YOU for every time you read, comment, like, subscribe my blog and social media--Thank you!
Random:
Christmas this year was different. It didn't feel the same. It was a great Christmas, just different. Christmas Eve it was myself and the parents--all the siblings were busy. Traditionally, we'd wake up and open gifts together. This year, it was done in shifts, as different family members came by at different times. I miss everyone opening gifts at once. How is it at your house?
GIVEAWAYS:
- NAKED 3 PALETTE
- Neutrogena in the New Year (3 prizes, 4 winners)
What are your Rants and Raves (or even Randoms) lately? Share below!
its always good to take a break!
ReplyDeletexo
MOSAMUSE
www.MOSAMUSE.com
In response to the first rant I find that offering an email newsletter is a good way to get people to come back to your blog. Facebook is doing it now where hardly anyone sees your posts, no one is on Google+, Twitter is so crammed packed with people, and most people already have a list a mile long of blogs/websites they go to. I find that offering a service that send posts directly to their inbox (you can use Feedburner but Mailchimp has a basic free service and is what I use) lets them choose when they come back to comment on something of interest. They won't come back for every post but they'll come back for more than they probably would have normally :)
ReplyDeleteI love A christmas Story too! I try to stop by here as often as possible. Keep blogging, BUT make sure you take your needed blogging breaks
ReplyDeleteI thought We're the Millers was a lot better than I thought it would be. And hooray for Naked 3! I got mine, immediately regretted getting it (because several colors seem crumbly) but as I've used it, I've loved it more and more. It should definitely play up your eyes very nicely!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the personal blogs thing... only for me it's BEAUTY blogs! I agree that you branch out into different territories and that's why you're one of my favorites... because you don't stop by my blog, see that it's a personal blog and then just automatically leave - I feel like people get trapped into thinking that they can only socialize with certain types of bloggers and that's just dumb!
ReplyDeleteGirl, we are all allowed to rant - PMS or not! I get really frustrated too when you comment on blogs, etc. and never hear back from people. I just think it's really rude, so I'm with you!
ReplyDeleteYour list of raves outweighs the rants, so you're good in my book! :)
I agree with you on rant number 1, I think some people just don't want to make friends. Or at least that's how I see it. Personally, I'm here to share my thoughts AND make friends. Some people are just in it for the numbers!
ReplyDeleteYay for Naked 3!!! <3
You're right! For about every 10 comments I make, I get 1 visit. It stinks! Where is the give & take?
ReplyDeleteWhat The Great Gatsby lacked in acting, it more than made up for in costumes and soundtrack.
ReplyDeleteI was just complaining to my sister how it's so weird that there was no Christmas Story marathon this year. As much as I love the Home Alone movies, I miss CS big time!
ReplyDeleteAnd yay again for all the raves:) Will add that book on my TBR.
I'm happy to hear that Christmas Story is also ur fav Christmas movie as well! I actually watched Elf for the 1st time this yr but Christmas Story still all the way ;) Thanks for always sharing ur rants & raves!
ReplyDeletewww.speakstyleandrock.com
I always wonder what YOUR secret is with readers. No one new has read my blog since, umm, you! Hahaha. It wasn't better back when I was posting more and it just made me lazy.
ReplyDeleteTotally understand you that this Christmas felt weird. Usually we do the same thing opening gifts as a family on Christmas Day. This year my brother and his fiancé came over Christmas Eve because they couldn't make it in the morning. And Matt works a job now that has no holidays off so he was working and I didn't even get to see him until literally seconds before midnight on Christmas Day. I just wasn't feeling it this year.
I got Naked 3 too! Obsessed! New Year!!!
ReplyDeleteI've been blogging for years, reading and commenting on MANY blogs and MAYBE 5 of those people consistently stop by my blog. I hear you on that!
ReplyDeleteI just saw dallas buyers club today--also loved it!
ReplyDeletePlease make a review on Naked 3...I am on the fence about getting it. Thank you! Hope you had a great Christmas and a good New Year celebration, Elle! Much love!
ReplyDeletePersonal bloggers are tough to crack. I've tried to reach out but get nothing in return. I think it's because I'm not a "mom" blog.
ReplyDeleteAnd about Meet the Millers.... what was that? My mom and I watched it over the holiday, and all we could do was cringe.
http://www.somethingmonumental.com/
those who give you no blog love after several attempts are all wangfaces who think they're too "busy". that is one of my biggest blogging pet peeves - if you have a blog and want to make connections, MAKE CONNECTIONS! i love all kinds of blogs and have a bunch of different ones on my reader. i'm not a beauty junky but i love your blog! it has some great tips :)
ReplyDelete-kathy
Vodka and Soda
oo glad you like the naked palate! i really want to get it, my mom had it and the colors are so pretty! xo jillian - cornflake dreams
ReplyDeleteTotally understand #1 of your rants. My advice is to just hang in there. Comment on blogs that you enjoy whether or not they return the favor, that is if you really enjoy it. But don't just comment to get someone to comment in return because it never works. (at least that has been my experience.) You have good content so I'm sure your audience will grow. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteErika B
www.cocktailsconversation.com
I've been taking a bit of a blogging/filming break myself. There are so many things I'd love to write or film, but at the same time it's good to get a breath of fresh air and keep things at a balanced pace. Yay for getting the Naked 3 palette! I hope you like it!
ReplyDeleteYa on getting the the naked 3. I hear you on rant #1. I have sent cards out to blogger and have never got a thank you back. So this year I didn't send them a card out.
ReplyDeleteOMG blog everyday, I don't know how you do it, I applaud you for that! :) But yeah Happy New year!!! Oh yeah I was wondering if you could do a review of the Naked 3 palette.
ReplyDeleteNina
http://curvymod.blogspot.com/
I've got to agree with your first rant. There are a few blogs that I really enjoy and make a point to comment on regularly and never get a response. It's kinda of disheartening and honestly it makes me like the blogger a bit less.
ReplyDeleteGood for you for taking a blogging break!! I did too and at first I felt like a bad blogger. Then I realized I blog for me and I needed time off! Naked 3 is my next purchase, either that or I'm hoping someone in my family will get it for me because they are all sick of me saying "I really want to get Naked." :)
Oh man, rant #4--that is so me, way too often!!!!!! It gets frustrating, especially if you're at work and you have to be really nice when you really just want to roll your eyes so hard they lodge in your head.
ReplyDeleteI make it a point to read blogs based on more than just genre-loyalty and follow equally beauty, fashion, Paleo, moms, singles, writers and all kinds of mash-ups of each. I'm glad to have befriended you on IG and look forward to getting to "know" you better! ;) My Christmas was weird, too. You're not alone. And Naked3... droool! Have 2 and LOVE it!
ReplyDeleteOoooh Naked 3, I've still got to get 1 and 2, I'm jealous!
ReplyDeleteSorry that your Christmas was kind of disappointing! Andrew and I just stayed at home since we headed up to Idaho for my sister's wedding three days later, but it was weird to not have any family around. I feel ya!
ReplyDelete