Blog Talk: 10 Things I Learned in My 4 Years of Blogging

Almost 4 years, wow!  Time has really flown.  Who would of thought that a simple post made while I was sitting on my couch would have turned into...a mini empire?  Well believe me, I've come a long way from those Mind of a Fashionista days, and reflecting back, there's a lot of things that I've learned along the way....

THIS SHIT IS HARD WORK!
I've said this before and I'll say it again, people don't realize the magnitude of WORK that has to be put in when you blog, even if you only do it as a hobby. From content creation to social media promotion and everything in between, blogging is hard effing work. I find myself having two jobs, my 9 to 5 and my blog. So to those of you who think this is easy? I'm just sipping my tea waiting for you to re-nig on that statement.

ALWAYS BE AUTHENTIC
I know you guys are familiar with many of the posts I've written on being authentic and that's because I wholeheartedly believe it.  Blogging is similar to any industry, which means you're known for your character, so if you decide to be the fake, ass kissing blogger....everyone else will know.  Kissing ass and sucking up may be a good way to climb up in the  ladder of blogging success but I frankly don't dabble in bullshit. My journey may be longer but I know it's well worth it.

PLANNING IS EVERYTHING
Yea........I have calendars and planners galore in efforts of keeping this blog in tact.  Fact is....planning is EVERYTHING when it comes to blogging, whether that's planning a vlog series, an outfit post, a new printable you're creating or just figuring out what to post on your social media channels......half-assing and not taking even the slightest moment to plan ahead can cast a bad reflection of your blog.

LEARN HOW TO ACCEPT "NO"
Blogging is still an occupation that many people either don't respect or honestly don't know shit about , so you'll tend to see that when reaching out to companies, big and small, they are reluctant to work with you. The word NO is going to be your best friend and worst enemy and you'll soon learn to expect a no over a yes, if anything it builds character. As you progress in your blogging journey those same companies will see you're about business and could reach out in the future. #1 rule, never be discouraged.

HATING HOES GONNA HATE
Chilllllllllllld I cannot tell you the drama that has happened because of this blog.
From other bloggers to brands, to even friends, there are just some envious people who always have shit to say.  Don't let the negativity get you down. As they say if you have haters you must be doing something right.

BLOGGING FRIENDS ARE A SECOND FAMILY
Speaking of friends, blogging friends are the best. For some reason my family and friends who aren't in the creative field don't understand the highs and lows of what I go through as a blogger, but my blogging babes know too well. AND, blogging friends are the best when hitting up a blog event, they're just excited as you are if not more!

DON'T BE SCARED TO DIVE IN
With blogging , there are a lot of different areas you can dive into in order to expand, a lot of us however don't take those leaps of faith because we're afraid of failing and often compare ourselves to other bloggers and feel we don't "measure up". My advice on that? To hell with it and go for it! I rather do it and know I tried, happily failing, than not knowing what I could have done. whether it's starting a new vlog, organizing an event, or creating a product that'll bring in that extra coin, take the chance and do it! (Just make sure to plan)

YOUR BLOG IS AN EXTENSION OF YOU
This is something I shouldn't have to say but I feel I do because there are those certain bloggers who only do it for the hustle.  I tend to refer to them as "blogging/creative whores".  They only dabble into fields so they can make the most money they can, knowing damn well they don't give a shit about the foundation of the job or industry.  I however, do.  Many of us blog because we want to convey a message and be able to express ourselves, and it's amazing how much I look at my blog or the blogs of others and can get a sense of their personality right off the bat.

CHANGE IS GREAT!
as humans we change more than we realize.  We change what we like, love, and choose to take interest in, and this is no exception when it comes to blogging.  If you've followed us from the beginning, we started as a fashion blog, moved into beauty, added blogging, and now we're nicheless.  Embrace the change, and make it work for you!

BLOGGING IS LIFE!
At the end of the day, I wouldn't trade this path that I'm on.  I never thought that a simple post that I made because I was bored would turn into my passion, something I want to pass down to my child.  As cliche as it sounds, blogging is life!!!

The Funniest Halloween Costumes!!!

The week before Halloween is among us yall!!! This is one of my favorite holidays, and the sole reason is because of the funny ass costumes...like come on now!

Below are some of my personal favorites!

Now we'll definitely be on the look out for the funniest Halloween costumes for 2016 and we would love to see your picks as well, so drop them lines and let us know!!!

Beauty: Find That Dupe-Eyebrow Wiz's!!!

So, I've been experimenting with eyebrow pencils or "wiz's" lately as I finally decided to wax these beasts and have them looking good.  Fact is however, more and more beauty brands have been coming out with their versions of eyebrow wiz's. pencils, and shapers, and the question is...which one is worth your money?

The reigning wiz in the game is Anastasia Beverly Brow Wiz.  I was so reluctant to try it because for the most part I thought it was just hype.  But once I got some extra money I bought one and did see the benefits of this product.

PROS: clean application, blends well, color matchings perfectly.

CONS: EXPENSIVE AS SHIT! $22

One dupe I was able to stumble upon while doing my usual hoarding was NYX's Micro Brow Pencil.  I honestly didn't know NYX has ventured into eyebrow pencils but I am happily amazed as I always am with their pencils

PROS: clean application, blends well, color matchings perfectly, very affordable

CONS: Packaging (cap kept popping off)

A second dupe that I also stumbled upon while in Walgreens was L'Oreal's Brow Stylist Definer and again, one of the great dupes I seemed to have stumbled upon when it comes to brow wiz's

PROS: easy application, blends well, very affordable

CONS: A little thick when applying, more like a pomade, limited shades

Overall, I believe the NYX's Brow Pencil is one I can definitely buy instead of Anastasia's Brow Wiz.

Beauty babes, what do you guys think?  Do you have any brow wiz's you use in your makeup routine? Drop a line below and let us know!

Hair, Beauty, & Makeup: Shea Moisture African Black Soap Line Review!

Shea Moisture is literally heaven f***ing sent.  Mind you, I'm definitely late in the game, but thanks to Diamond I am well up to speed on not only the hype, but the true magic of Shea Moisture.

Ok so quick back story on how this whole haul came about.  Went to Walgreens to look for that expensive ass Cetaphil cleanser and moisturizer.  I have eczema + over oily skin so this is what my old dermatologist recommended me to use.  It just so happened that Walgreens was having a buy 1 get 1 50% off all Shea Moisture products at the time, and the shopaholic in me said...why the hell not.  And I will wholeheartedly tell you this was one of the best purchases I've made in a long time.

The problem skin moisturizer has replaced any Cetaphil moisturizer I once used.  Even though the jar is tiny, you don't need a lot.  A small circle covers your entire face and helps to clear up skin and battle certain issues such as oil, dryness, eczema, etc.

I am in love with the facial scrub.  Each Friday when I get into my relaxation mode I use this along with other products we'll talk about below and my skin feels NEW again.  Not too strong but gives you the right amount of tingle and sensation.

Ok so please don't be alarmed when you use this.  The wash is black, like black as a black marker BUT it instantly turns into white bubbles that we're use to seeing.  I use this when my body has a flare up from the eczema or even when myself or my daughter have a multitude of mosquito bites.  I just use a few drops in our bath water and the itching and irritation goes away instantly!

And now...to the infamous black soap.  I actually didn't know Shea Moisture made two versions.  The version I have is specifically made for eczema and psoriasis treatment and it does what it says it will do.  On top of that, this soap gets rid of any makeup!  Definitely something to think about when choosing a makeup remover.

Along with the facial scrub, I use the black mud mask to help detoxify my face after a long week of makeup wearing, running around, and just...being dirty.  Let's face it (no pun intended), your face builds up a lot of dirt over a course of a week and you need to implement some type of regimen to get that all out, and the black mud mask does just that.

Now this is an interesting product.  I have seemed to figure out that not only should you use this before bed or before you start your day, but it works great as a mattifying primer AND for removing makeup!  How?  Hell I don't know but it does!

And last but certainly not least, the black soap body lotion.  Very thick, which is needed for people with dry skin problems.  I have been able to get rid of my daughter's steroid eczema cream and use this instead and it's like gold in a bottle!

I loved the line so much, I did a nice little Youtube video on it!  Check it out below and drop a link in the comment box on some of the products you love from Shea Moisture, whether from the black soap line or their other amazing lines!

Blog Talk: How to Diversify Your Content like a #nichelessbadass

Is it me, or as bloggers, are we on a never ending "quest" for thinking of creative, engaging, possibly viral content that not only resonates with our audience, but satisfies the writer within us?  Hell I feel it.  We're in the world of trying to create diverse content.  It's almost necessary at this point in order to stay relevant.  I remember when I started this blog, I didn't really trip too much off of trying to be a Youtuber, podcaster, or thinking of different ways to simply...blog.  But now?  I am finding any and everything in order to make this brand unique, and make our content diverse.

Different Types of Blog Posts/Content

I cannot begin to even think of the different types of blog posts we've created here on this site.  When I first started the blog in 2013 a lot of my posts were geared towards trend and opinion posts, but as I slowly but surely learned about how to develop content for my blog, I realized there were many different types of blog posts you could create to give your content variety, such as:

tutorials-how-tos

lists

trends

product reviews

rants/opinions

giveaways

linky parties

interviews

roundups

printables/goodies to share (keep scrolling for this post"S free goodie!)

Different Platforms

On top of creating diversity when it comes to written blog posts, I've also realized you can create a variety of content by utilizing different platforms and methods available.

Videos

For example, video is a great way to give your blog that extra umph that it needs, and I highly recommend that every blogger implement some type of video into their content creation system.  Whether it's Youtube, Periscope, Facebook live, Snapchat, Google, or another video system, there are a number of content ideas that you could easily implement into a vlog segment, such as:

live unboxings

tutorials/how-tos

live interviews

product reviews

rants

web series/funny videos

, lookbooks

contests/giveaways

Podcasts

And just as easy as it is to implement a video into your blog, it's easy as hell to implement a podcast.  Podcasts are similar to talk radio, something you might find in your iTunes store or on Spotify, and is a creative way to give your readers not only another way to support you, but a different side of you with segments such as:

live interviews

series segments

funny recordings

rants

LET'S PAUSE!

Ok guys, I gave you 3 different platforms in order for you to begin the process of diversifying your content in order for your readers to not only read your content, and watch your content, but also to listen to your content.  And you may be thinking, well coming up with different segments for each of these platforms is going to be a lot of work....well not necessarily.  

For example, we did our How to Cover an Event like a Bomb Ass Blogger post not too long ago.  Not only do we have this post up on the blog, I also did a video on this same subject, same key points, and used the EXACT video published on Youtube and easily transferred it to our Soundcloud for our podcast....talk about killing 3 birds with one huge stone!

Webinars/E-Tutorials

If you're a blogger who has a knack for something, and it doesn't even have to be blog related, having a webinar, e-tutorial, or e-course is a great way to show off your skill to your blog followers, new and seasoned, and if you're that good, you can make some mula off of it!

Ebooks

E-books are a trend among the blogging community and I see why.  If you have a series of posts, or a segment that people love, it's super easy to turn that into an e-book.  With some editing and a few technical details you can turn already published blog posts into a helpful e-book that can be sold on Amazon and other platforms!

So you guys know I couldn't leave you guys without giving you a great goodie that will help you create diverse content, and today, I'm giving you TWO GOODIES!  We have not only the Blog Post Planner, but we also have 50 Blog Post Ideas for Diverse Content!

So be sure to click to download, and also drop a line in the comments and let us know how you create diverse content for your blog!

                      

                       

Beauty: Find That Dupe-Holographic Highlighters!

Holographic highlighters have been a crazed, mysterious trend for some time now.  I say this because one day a video pops up on Facebook or Instagram of this magical treasure and then you go to try and buy it...and it's sold out.  And because of it being sold out the trend surely fizzles out as if it never happened, so when I stumbled upon MILK Cosmetic's Holographic Stick....I had to cop immediately!  I actually wasn't looking for a holographic highlighter in particular, and it was the first thing that appeared on the page at Sephora...go figure.

MILK Cosmetics is a brand that appeared in Sephora not long ago, and I was excited as hell to know that they had a holographic highlighter and even more eager to try, but I think I got too excited for my own good.

Upon application, the highlighter goes on as a purple streak and as you move it back and forth you can see how the colors do change, cool right?  Well here's the thing...unless you plan to keep this big bold streak on your face, the effect quickly fades away as you blend into your makeup.  I tried this on Saturday and I applied 4 times and still didn't see any holographic effects once I blended, if anything, it made my face look ashy.  If you have a lighter complexion you might not have this problem, but for myself with a caramel complexion, it looked as if I baked my face and didn't blend in the rest of the translucent powder.

Ironically, I received my Colourpop shipment the day after I received my MILK holographic stick.  As I went through swatching the different highlighters, I came across Honeymoon which....matches up to be a great dupe for MILK's holographic stick!

The formula of Colourpop's highlighter is much more smooth and creamy, and it has more of a glitter effect to it on top of the same holographic effect, and I don't even know if that was intended or not by Colorpop.  Upon application I noticed I didn't have to apply as much and it gave more of that shimmer that you would expect from a holographic highlighter.  If anything you could use this in place of MILK's holographic stick or on top to bring out the intended effect.

What's the verdict???  We're going to go with Colourpop.  Unless you are that brand loyal to MILK which I don't know if that's possible given how relatively new they are, save yourself $20 and get you that Honeymoon in your life.

Know of any more dupes we should try out?  Drop a link in the comment and let us know!  Also, be sure to check out this Find That Dupe in the video below!!!