Bloggers... do you care about followers? I do!

The funny thing is I first titled this post "Blogging... things I have learned and how to promote yourself" and I think you will see it has turned it to something completely different. A post full of positivety, I hope :-)

I have seen a lot of bloggers say that they don't care how many people read their blog or how many followers that they have. And maybe they don't but, Well the truth is I do care... there I said it. I care. If my hit counter says 1 or 100 it does affect me. 

I started my blog like all others talking (or typing rather) and not knowing who if anybody was listening. I waited and waited hoping to login and see a comment from somebody, anybody just so that I would know I wasn't alone. It took months until I got my first one and even then it was more of a link bump than a 'real comment'.  But I had to keep going, some of these words I just had to get out. I needed to focus on something else for a while, something away from my 'real life' and do you know what it helped, it was a distraction and I believe blogging is really helping me get through one of the toughest times in my life. 

It isn't blogging alone getting me through, but the community. Having something in common with all of these other people. I have always found it very difficult to make friends and I think as you get older it becomes more so. Bloggers are supportive, helpful and caring towards each other. Put up a post saying that you are feeling down and no doubt you will have many comments wishing you well. Put up a post saying that you are happy sharing some good news and no doubt you will have comments congratulating you on your happiness.  It is this support from other bloggers that is so special.

Reading about problems others are facing which I can relate to helps me so much too. It gives me courage to share my own story and opinions. It makes me feel like I am not alone. And being lonely is the worst feeling in the world to me.


I have always been shy about sharing my true feelings and opinions.  I didn't want to be singled out or to be seen as 'different' if I gave my opinion, I was afraid of what people would think of me. I so badly wanted to fit in and at the same time I wanted to be special, different (I think this is something that caused me a lot of problems... but thats another story for a different day). 

Blogging has opened me up. It is making me less afraid of telling the truth and saying my own opinions. Hell if I can announce them to the bloggosphere for anyone to read.  Surely I can speak up if I don't like carrots (I do by the way).

So if I am sharing all this with the interweb then I do hope that somebody else is reading and that maybe just maybe some of the things I have shared might help them too.

The thing is that anybody can be a blogger no matter who you are or where. As long as you have internet access and a computer device, the blogging world is your oyster. There are blogs about beauty, animals, fences, farms and food. So if you have an interest there will be a blog about it. This is what makes it so special. You really can find others who care and share about the same things you do.

So that is the truth, I do care if others are reading my blog, and I am not ashamed to admit it. I want them to read and comment and communicate with me via instagram and twitter. It makes me happy.

So thank you blogging for giving me so much. It may sound cheesy but its true and that is my opinion :-)

It would be lovely to hear how blogging has helped or not hepled you...

love

10 Question Interview with another Blogger Tag

So guys and gals, I am starting a new tag to encourage us to get to know a fellow blogger a bit better!!

The rules

1.Tag a blogger who you want to get to know better

2.Answer the questions below in a post and send the link to who you have tagged.

3. They then post their answers to the questions along with your answers.

4. Then they tag another blogger who posts their own answers to the questions as well as the 'taggers' answers and the 'tagger befores' answers then tags somebody else....

5. That person answers the questions then posts their answers, their taggers answers, the tagger before that answers and the tagger before thats answers!!

You can see how this will keep going and we will end up with lots of bloggers answers all together.

So....

The Questions

1. What is your greatest achievement?

2. If you could take over another bloggers blog for a day whose would it be and why?

3. Did you study at university or college?

4. What do you do for a living?

5. Do you have any brothers, sisters or pets?

6. What is your favourite thing about yourself?

7. What is your favourite food?

8. Where is your favourite place you have visited?

9. What was the last thing that really made you laugh?

10. Can you tell me a secret about yourself that nobody else knows (yet)?

My Answers

1. What is your greatest achievement?

Probably walking on the runway at LA fashion week at one of the biggest shows.

2. If you could take over another bloggers blog for a day whose would it be and why?

Maybe mashable.com I would write about really girly things and maybe do a recipe for strawberry sprinkle cupcakes ha ha!

3. Did you study at university or college?

I studied dance in Edinburgh

4. What do you do for a living?

At the moment I am talking some time out to recuperate and decide what to do next.

5. Do you have any brothers, sisters or pets?

Yipper I have an older sis and I have my pet chihuahua Poppi

6. What is your favourite thing about yourself?

Probably that I can learn how to do things really quickly. (apart from cooking) 

7. What is your favourite food?

My fave food changes all the time at the moment it is chicken Korma or a Sunday roast with lots of gravy and horseradish.

8. Where is your favourite place you have visited?

I love LA. The weather is gorgeous and most people are pretty positive. There is also an abundance of great restaurants and your not too far from the beach.

9. What was the last thing that really made you laugh?

My dad trying to remember the name of the nappies he use to use on me and my sis to prove to us that he did in fact change our nappies at some point when we were babies. Pompidoose he said?!

10. Can you tell me a secret about yourself that nobody else knows?

A secret about me is that I am really insecure and don't have much confidence at all.

I tag India-Robyn from 

http://thejewelbeauty.blogspot.co.uk/

The Truth About GFC Disappearing

When I heard google reader was disappearing I immediately thought that meant GFC was going along with it. A quick flit through my twitter timeline and it seems most people (like me) are a little confused about what exactly is happening.

So after some time searching and getting to grips with everything this is what I have found.

On the 22nd November 2011 google announced that it would be discontinuing GFC for all non blogger blogs. This was completed on 1st March 2011.. did this signal the begining of the end for GFC altogether?

Now the thing that has got bloggers hats is that they have now announced the discontinuation of Google Reader. Does this mean that GFC will disappear along with Google Reader? The simple answer to that is no. On the 1st July your GFC followers wont vanish.

However, it does seem only a matter of time before google do disontinue GFC for all other blogs. After all they haven't updated it in a few years and perhaps a tell tale sign is that there is no sign of GFC on Google's own blog, only Google+ Followers.

I wouldn't bet on GFC being around in a few years time so perhaps it is an idea to start encouraging others to follow you on different platforms like bloglovin', twitter, facebook so if that time comes you and your blog are prepared.

HOW TO IMPORT BLOGS TO BLOGLOVIN'

My clever little friend Ellie from www.elliesramblings.com
has shared something very exciting...  

For those of you know are already registered with Bloglovin' All you need to do is go to http://www.bloglovin.com/import  then click google reader and follow the instructions!

If you are not registered first sign up and then follow the process above.

Easy as pie! Now I am following all my GFC blogs once more! hooraaay.

Will you be upset if GFC does disappear altogether? 

Beauty Blog Recommendations - I am loving these gals!

Since I started blogging I have come across so many amazing blogs and such wonderful bloggers. I wanted to share the love a little bit and point you in the direction of some of the beauties...

First up is India-Robyn from The Jewel Beauty Blog

Twitter: www.twitter.com/jewelbeautyblog

She is such a gorgeous girl with the most amazing hair I have ever seen! Be sure to check out her blog for lots of amazing beauty reviews!

Next is Kat Clark from Tales of a Pale face

Twitter: www.twitter.com/talesofpaleface

Kat is an aboslutely lovely lass. You will find some lovely nail polish reviews at tales of a pale face and a blog full of girly fun :-)

Sophia Meola from sophiameola.blogspot.co.uk

Twitter: www.twitter.com/sophiameola

You will find some amazing Haul's on Sophia's blog as well as lots of fun and amazing giveaways!!!

Kayleigh Johnson from x-couturegirl-x

Twitter: www.twitter.com/k_leexjx

Kayleigh is one gorgeous gal, always has great pictures and a fellow Matalan lover too!!

So go and check these gals out if you have a minute you wont be disappointed I promise :-)

 

 

Another Award For Me... Yowzer!!!

Another Leibster Award yeeeooow! The front of my fridge is going to be chocka-block!

 

Thank you to Jayde at Little Bit Of Sunshine for nominating me :-)

The Liebster Award is a chain-type award that bloggers can nominate each other for. It is a great way to get to know your fellow bloggers and spread the word about each others blogs.

I was nominated for my first Liebster Award Here

So here are the rules:

1. Write 11 facts about yourself
2. Answer your nominators 11 questions
3. Nominate 5 other bloggers
4. Ask those nominated 11 new questions 

11 facts about me

1. I have a super cute Chiuhuahua named Poppi

2. I have given up drinking any and all alcoholic beverages

3. I am still figuring out what I want to be when I grow up

4. I don't like loud noises

5. I hate being cold, it makes me really moody

6. I love bread and toast. I could eat it all day

7. Christmas is my favourite time of year

8. I love travelling and going on Aeroplanes

9. I taught myself how to write html code when I was young

10. I never think anything I do is good enough like these facts, they are rubbish! :-)

11. I used to ice skate competitively and still own 2 pairs of ice skates :-) :-)

Q & A

1. Where is you favourite place that you've travelled to?

Probably Los Angeles, I love the food, the movie history, the weather

2. Your guilty pleasure?

Listening to One Direction

3. What are your favourite kinds of posts to read?

Anything honest. Whether it is a review or something about the persons life

4. Facebook or Twitter?

Ooh that's a tricky one. Probably twitter

5. What is your favourite book?

Born on a Blue day by Daniel Tammet. It is about a boy growing up with Asperger's syndrome. I find it incredibly inspiring.

6. What is your favourite beauty product?

Oh this changes all the time. At the moment it is Clarin's gentle foaming cleanser

7. Who is your style icon?

I have a few Christina Hendricks, Julia Roberts, Charlize Theron, Alessandra Ambrosio

8. Dream job?

Film directing something like the remake of Robin Hood with Russell Crowe or Braveheart

9. Tea or coffee?

I am trying not to drink any coffee at the moment as it makes me hyper so I will have to say tea

10. Dead or alive, who would you most like to meet?

My dad's dad

11. What are you scared of?

Being a failure and spiders

My nominations are

So on Trend
Lola Rose
Glittering Secrets
Coco and tea
Jenni my Style

My questions

1. If you could be anyone for a day who would it be?
2. Favourite quote?
3. Favourite movie?
4. What is your best childhood memory?
5. Dogs or cats?
6. What do you do in your spare time apart from Blogging?
7. Favourite blog?
8. What do you most like to read about in a blog?
9. If you could have anybody follow your blog who would it be?
10.What do you want to be doing 5 years from now?
11.How long have you been blogging for?

So that's it ladies get blogging :-)

Follow me on Bloglovin

Follow my blog with Bloglovin 

I am pleased to say I have finally signed up to Bloglovin!!! Let me know if you are on there also :-)

My first Award Nomination :-)

Thank you to Michelle from Luxe Life Aspirations who has tagged me for this fun award.

It is a great way to get to know your fellow bloggers and spread the word about each others blogs.

So here are the rules:

1. Write 11 facts about yourself
2. Answer your nominators 11 questions
3. Nominate 5 other bloggers
4. Ask those nominated 11 new questions



11 facts about me

1. I have never ever dyed my hair ever
2. I was born in Scotland
3. I am totally obsessed with Friends (the tv show)
4. I love Instagram (AshlyLondon) and take pictures of just about anything. I then look back and see what I did each day.
5. I auditioned for the film 'Loch Ness' with Ted Dansen when I was 8
6. I have the cutest nephew in the world
7. I let me dog sleep on my bed
8. I have made my own short films
9. I trained as an Actress in LA
10. I was in a film with the hot guy from Twilight
11. I can't think of anything else for now



My answers to Michelle's Questions

1. What do you want to be doing 5 years from now?  (I need some inspiration!) Working for myself and doing what ever I like when I like :-)
2. What’s your favourite fashion obsession?  (shoes or bags or both…) cute + comfy jumpers
3. What other hobbies do you have besides from blogging?  Shopping is a hobby right?
4. Motto in life? Be yourself and be true to who you are.
5. How many pairs of shoes do you own?  (Do you know?) I am always buying and selling shoes so it is hard to keep track. Probably around 20
6. What food could you happily eat for the rest of your life? Warm freshly baked bread with butter
7. What’s your favourite cosmetic brand? Estee Lauder, although it changes from month to month
8. Biggest vice?
9. Books or magazines? Magazines I love to read when I want to zone out but books I read when I want to learn something
10. What is your favourite item of clothing? My ugg boots (not really clothing but they are so cosy and comfy and there is a foot of snow outside)
11. What do you order in Starbucks/Costa etc.? Costa Vanilla Late is my favourite :-)

My nominations are:

Clare - SparklySexyCool
Chloe - Chloe's Makeup Room
Melissa - Fashionlaceworld
Lisa - Thedarksideofcelebritty
Manen - Fitness Makeup and Fashion


And my questions are:

1. What made you start blogging?
2. If you could have any job for a day what would it be?
3. Who is your style icon?
4. What one item of clothing do you wish you had the guts to wear?
5. If you could buy any fashion or beauty item what would it be and why
6. What is the best thing you have learned from someone elses blog?
7. Where is your favourite place to shop?
8. High Street or designer?
9. iPhone or Blackberry?
10. What is your favourite desert?
11. What most inspires you?

Make sure you comment with a link to your responses ladies :-)

Lots of Love Ashly xxx