Thursday 15 September 2016

The Lush Creative Showcase


 On Tuesday I took a trip to Shadwell to the Tobacco Dock to see this years Lush Creative Showcase. Obviously I had never been to anything like this before but I've bought a few Lush products over the years and had one of the best customer service experiences there so it was great to get a first look at what was coming up and get a real insight into the company. 

When you walk into the venue the place really does look beautiful, one thing I will say off the bat is that the venue was really representative of the brand and by the looks of things they really did have the entire venue to themselves.There was greenery everywhere and dotted about the place you could see that signiture Lush front peeking at you from blackboards.

Upon arrival I was given my wristband (another thing to add to my London scrap book) and instructed to download an app that would aid in giving me more information throughout the afternoon. However a) it was slow in downloading, b) it was asking me to sign up and create an e-mail or link with facebook and c) Ambers app didn't even work so needless to say the app was promptly deleted, that wasn't a very promising start to the trip for me. 

So with no real idea of what direction to go in I headed off around the venue, starting in the Christmas Showcase and taking in the wide range of products that Lush will no doubt sell in large quantities throughout the holidays. There were massive blocks of soap, bath bombs by the hundreds and gift boxes galore as you walked around the room and took everything in. There were some staff on hand to help but overall the large quantities of crowds in the room made it hard to hang about and have a good look and the tills in the corner meant that large queues would block certain areas. 

Everything in here looked extremely festive and smelled amazing. As a rule, at Christmas I tend to stay away from bath sets as loads of people give them out at Christmas but the Lush sets really are something special and I wouldn't mind receiving something myself. We spent a good 10 minutes walking around in here and taking everything in but there will always be something really odd about hearing Christmas music during a London heatwave. As always, a Lush display always throws up the perfect photo opportunity so below are some of the pieces you will find in stores this Christmas.






My favourite part of the afternoon was seeing the selection of interior swatches that the company are coming up with to use in their stores. After a history in visual merchandising it's interesting for me to see some of the process behind showcasing different products since I'm used to seeing it used with clothes. 

Marble and copper are looking like the key materials they want to go for but whatever they choose to ride with, it looks like it will be done in a recycled and upscaled style. 




 Fun fact, some of the swatches of 'marble' seen here are actually made up of recycled plastics. 



In the make up section there was a load of lipsticks to be swatched which is usually what I would run for but these pigments were absolutely beautiful and I couldn't ignore them. Happiness was this stunning darker gold shade, not unlike the gold you get in the Naked palette but the colour payoff was oustanding. The Cinderella blue was also beautiful, definitely not a shade I would usually consider but after seeing it swatched I totally fell in love. All of the pigments I tried had spectacular colour pay off so whatever one you decide to choose you won't be dissappointed.


 Walking into the more open foyers off the Tobacco Dock is where you are really wowed by the effort that Lush have put into this showcase. There was a huge bathtub setup that allowed staff to show off their new products in huge vats and in the corner there was a deceiving cotton candy stall which oh my god, DON'T EAT because it's shower scrub. I totally thought I was about to get free candyfloss but I used the shower scrub that night and it was really amazing so that made up for not getting to eat it. 

The bath setup in the foyer was truely the shining jewel of the event. I was looking at it and thinking 'all this for a two day event?' but every single person that came across this spectacle was in awe of its scale and you could say it was a sculpture that captured what Lush is all about? I dunno, either way it was crazy impressive to look at, almost like a fountain and you literally couldn't take a bad photo of it either.








The only thing I couldn't get on board with on the day was the huge urgency to sell. The whole afternoon felt very rushed, when we arrived we were asked if we were considering jobs in Lush etc. and when you pair that with the need to sign up and use the app and the whole thing just felt a lot more like a marketing push. I have no doubt that the marketing would have been a huge driving force behind making a two day event for the launch but I just felt that the afternoon should have been more balanced with talks and interaction with the products themselves. I don't know if it was our timing but when we went into the beanbag room there was nothing happening and nothing to tell us if there was any other talks/music going to be on that day (although it was probably stated on the app.)

I would also say that there were areas of the venue that I walked into and didnt even know if I was still at the Lush event or if I had strayed into somewhere else. 

Overall the day was interesting, I seen a lot of things that I liked - in particular the make up - but overall I just felt the event wasn't very social or educational about Lush. I would say that the members of staff that I did encounter seemed super knowlegable on the products and really excited about what they were doing. Would I go back to the event again? Yes but only because it's something different to what I usually dobut I would rather go back to my local Lush and speak to staff one on one to learn about the new products when they come out rather than attend another event like this.

Thursday 8 September 2016

SURVIVING LONDONS PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Before I arrived in London I knew that the biggest hurdle I was going to face was the morning and evening commute. Aside from having a really irrational fear of falling onto the live wire and frazzling, (honestly, I lose much sleep over that) the high numbers of half asleep morning commuters can make the morning tube commute utter hell for a newcomer. I'm no stranger to London but when I came here on holiday I was at least clever enough to avoid rush hour like the plague but now, after 4 months of learning to commute the hard way, I'm going to share with you my London Tube Do's and DONT'S!!!!! 
 
  So here we go!
  
  1. Never ever ever EVER approach a ticket barrier if you don't have your Oyster card or contactless ready
 
Well done, you have just pointed out to the whole of London that you are a) a commuter newbie or b) a tourist, none of which goes down well during rush hour. Sad but true. In a city where every second counts and most people find the 2 minute wait between tubes unbearable, a bottle neck or hold up at a ticket barrier is an absolute no no, having to stop is inexcusable. Having to stop for more than 5 seconds while someone fumbles in their bag for a ticket is downright life-ruining.
 
  2. It's worth waiting the extra 2 minutes 
 
This is the one hack I learnt when I moved to Acton. If you have two trains arriving a minute apart, get on the second one and let everyone else get on the first. All the rushers will have piled off of the platforms onto the train and when the next train arrives a minute later, the platform will still be pretty empty, allowing you to get a seat on the commute like a boss. I'ts worth saying that if the last train was 5 minutes ago, the next train will be heaving as the platforms at previous stations will have gotten 5 minutes to get nice and busy again. Avoid those trains. 
 
 3. Plan your exit strategy
 
In the morning I swap from the Central line to the Victoria line at Oxford Circus, one of the bussiest stations. When my train gets in at the platform, the exit for the Victoria line is right at the back of the train (very end of the platform). To save fighting my way through the crowd on the platform I always travel in the last tube carriage, that way when I arrive at Oxford Circus I get off, turn right and boom! Off the platform before anyone can get in the way! This is definitely one of the best pieces of advice I could give, I hate fighting my way through crowds of people on the platform, its a lot like salmon swimming up stream so figure out ASAP where your station exit is and where is best to stand on the tube so that you get to it as easily as possible. 
 
4. Pair your suit with a nice set of Nikes
 
This is one for the women! I don't fall into this category as my footwear can we whatever I want but it' not an uncommon site to see women on the tube ditching the heels for trainers- at least until they get into the office. Commuting is hard enough without getting sore feet or your nice new heels stood on so its worth 30 unfashionable minutes if it means you can leg it up an escalator and beat everyone to the ticket hall. 
 
5. Learn the Luggage Laws
 
Personally, If I'm travelling with a suitcase I avoid rush hours altogether but for some people taking a suitcase onto the tube during rush hour isn't an option so here are some tips on what to do. 
DO NOT move down inside the train and stand between the seats, you have blocked the whole damn corridor and will find it impossible to maneuvre the suitcase to let people past when they need to get off. Stay in the open area infront of the doors but DO NOT stand right infront of them. When those doors open during rush hour its a mad dash to get as many people off and then on as possible, if your suitcase is in the way it's going to get kicked repeatedly. DO stash the suitcase beside the doors and the glass separator, suitcases prosper well there, if you can score yourself a space in the area where the seats fold down even better!!. (Glad I got that bit over and out the way!)
 
6. TFL Route Planner
 
This pieve of travel genius has gotteb me out of many sticky situations since I got here. It's basically a fail safe for planning your tube commute until you're confident doing it. I use it when I travel anywhere in London that I've not been before or if theres a problem with my tube line and I can't take the usual route home. It's a great thing to have just in case! 
 
TFL Route Planner 
 
7.  It gets hot in here
 
I struggle with heat, and underground it feels to me like it's magnified ten-fold. I don't know why it is, probably a lack of fresh air circulation but the tube on a hot day is absolutely horrible. If you also add into the equation the sheer number of people who are on your train and feeling just as terrible as you are, you can start to get an idea of how hot it can get. Perfume and deoderant should always be in your bag for these occasions so that you can freshen up again when you arrive home/to the office. Water is also a no-brainer for a hot tube commute and if there's one place I suggest you stand it would be right infront of the open window at the front of the carriage, it's not fresh air but as least it's a bit cooler...
 
  8. Bring a book
 
Or listen to music. As with any form of public transport, making the time pass faster is always preferred. Personally I love reading a book because I like to hear the tube announcements but loads of people board the tube with Metros, books, Kindls, PSVitas, Ipods you name it! I don't think many solo tube travellers dare start the journey without having something to distract them so be sure to have something on you to make the time pass faster.

So those are my tube tips! Some of them are definitely more obvious than others but maybe some of them have taught you something new before you tackle your commute. I definitely don't know everything there is about surviving rush hour in London but so far after 4 months I still don't find it boring which is a good thing. If I'm being honest you see some weird and wonderful things when travelling on the Tube in the morning and you definitely arrive at the office with some stories to tell!
If you have any extra tips you could share with me, feel free, I'm forever looking for new ways to survive the morning and evening rush hour!

Monday 5 September 2016

73 Questions Tag




This is a rather nice post to write, it lets you - the reader - learn some fun things about me and brings me back memories of when people would put things like this on Bebo when we were back in high school. Oh how times have changed!!

Anyway, on with the post!

1. Were you named after anyone?
No, my middle name Louise is the same as my mothers but my name was chosen as it couldn't be shortened to any kind of nickname.

2. If you had one superpower what would it be?
Tough one. Mind reading would be great if I could turn it on and off, I don't want to end up like Bruce Almighty when he hears the prayers!

3. Do you like your handwriting?
If I'm not rushing to get things written down, yes

4. What is your favourite lunch?
Hot dogs. Hot dogs. Hot dogs.

5. Instagram or twitter?
Instagram.

6. If you were another person, would you be friends with you?
Deffinitely! 

7. Do you bake?
No, it's something I really wish I did more of.

8. Do you like flying?
I love taking off and landing but hate being up there.

9. Would you bungee jump?
Right now I'm going to say no.

10. What is your favourite cereal?
Currently it's the chocolate weetabix bites.

11. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?
No.

12. Do you think you’re strong?
Yes.

13. What is your favourite ice cream?
Chocolate, I am a complete chocoholic. 

14. What is the first thing you notice about people?
Eyes!

15. Red or pink?
Red.

16. What is the least favourite thing about yourself?
I struggle to stay committed, I have loads of things I want to do but can't finish a single one of them.

17. Who do you miss the most?
My family.

18. What was the last book you read because everyone was reading it?
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and it was terrible. That's coming from someone with a Harry Potter tattoo.

19. What film made you cry the most?
The ending of The Notebook absolutely destroyed me. 

20. What was the last thing you ate?
Eggs Benedict from Spoons.

21. What are you listening to right now?
I'm listening to 'Victoria' on the telly so that.

22. If you were a crayon, what colour would you be?
Erm... a maroon one, for my football team. 

23. Favourite smell?
Vanilla and Bacon

24. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
My sister.

25. Mountain hideaway or beach house?
I'd love both but Beach House. 

26. Favourite sport to watch?
Football all the way!

27. Hair colour?
Blonde naturally, just now it's a mint colour.

28. Eye colour?
Blue

29. Puppies or kittens?
Kittens, sorry doggies but I'm 100% a cat person
 
30. Favourite food?
Hot dogs. 

31. Scary film or happy endings?
Happy endings.

32. Last film you watched?
Star Wars The Force Awakens

33. What book are you reading now?
Just now I'm reading two. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and The Devil Wears Prada, I'm long overdue to read it .
 
34. Summer or winter?
Winter. 

35. Hugs or kisses?
Ahhhh.... I'm a big kissing person but I do love hugs...PASS! 

36. Favourite dessert?
Milkshakes.

37. Favourite room in your house?
As I live in rented accommodation it's got to be my room. I love having my own little space. 

38. How long have you been on Facebook?
6/7 years I think, since the very end of high school. 

39. What is your favourite country to visit?
Right now it's Scotland, purely because it means I've gone home to see family and friends. 

40. What was the last country you visited?
Tenerife! Or London if you count me moving here?

42. Favourite sound?
A bottle of wine being opened.
 
43. Rolling Stones or the Beatles?
The Beatles.

44. What is the farthest you have been from home?
Kavos, never again.

45. Do you have a special talent?
I can put my whole fist in my mouth?
 
46. Where were you born?
Scotland.

47. Where are you living now?
London.

48. Favourite Hitchcock movie?
None.

49. What book have you read again and again?
Harry Potter.
 
50. Favourite TV series that’s on now?
Modern Family, South Park, Parks and Recreation

51. Dark chocolate or milk chocolate?
Milk!

52. What’s your favourite drink?
Water! I miss Scottish water so much now!

53. Jogging or swimming?
Swimming.
 
54. What was the first film you saw at the cinema?
I wanna say it was A Bugs Life? That's my earliest memory of the cinema.

55. Heels or flats?
Flats.

56. Least favourite food?
Fish.

57. Bath or shower?
Bath!
 
58. Iphone or android?
I have an Iphone and it's growing on me but Android!

59. Favourite band?
Kings of Leon and the Spice Girls? I really don't listen to music much anymore!

60. Favourite solo artist?
Calvin Harris? Does he count?

61. Dolphins or Koala’s?
Donkeys! I don't play by your rules.
 
62. Best way to decompress?
What?

63. Best gift you’ve ever received?
Erm... anything Harry Potter gets me in the feels to be honest...and that's a lot of 'best gifts'

64. Best gift you’ve ever given?
This is getting harder... I went overboard for my sisters 21st so that would probably be the best

65. Favourite fruit?
Banana
 
66. What was your first pet?
Technically our two cats Sophie and Gazza but MY first pet was my cat Jack.

67. Favourite board game?
Monopoly but the family never play it with me

68. How do you have your coffee?
Milk and one sugar

69. Best invention?
The play station!!!!!!!
 
70. Diamonds or pearls?
Diamonds.

71. Blow dry or air dry?
Air dry.

72. Cheap or expensive shampoo?
Cheap.

73. How difficult was it to answer these questions?
Not hard at all!

Thursday 1 September 2016

Industry Insider: Bambi-Bell




AMBER CRAWFORD is the graphic designer for Epona clothing, an ethical clothing company supplying college-wear to universities across the country. As well as juggling the responsibilities that come with the job she also keeps a blog called Bambi-Bell where she writes of her hobbies and daily observations. Her career path in the design industry as well as her commitment to her blog make her the perfect candidate for this Industry Insider post!

1)  What made you choose graphic design as your career?
I studied Product Design at University and always assumed that’s the career I’d go into until my final year which is when I really started questioning my plan for after my degree. I realised all my best and favourite work was graphics based, so with that in mind I decided that once I finished uni I’d take time to figure out exactly what I wanted career wise. I worked full time in a Wetherspoons and also as a freelance graphic designer, that’s where I realised I wanted that to be my career. I started off doing free work then quickly progressed onto only paid work which definitely helped motivate me.

2) What parts of your job do you find interesting and why?
The most interesting part has to be the ethics, I’ve always had some interest in clothing and where it’s manufactured so getting to work for a company where I’ve been able to learn about every stage of our clothing’s life is incredible. From learning about our farmers and factories to seeing how screen printing works and how the garments look in the shops once finished. I’ve learnt an incredible amount about organic cotton, fairtrade cotton, fair share and fair wear, the company is constantly looking for new ethical standards to reach so it’s a pretty cool thing to be part of.

3) What does a typical day in your job involve?
That’s a really hard question! A typical day tends to vary depending on the time of year, but as I’m answering this during our busiest work period I’ll base it on now. I’ll usually head into the office anytime between 8-9:30am depending on how big my workload is, getting in early means there’s less distractions, meaning I can get through lots of emails before my inbox is flooded. Most of my day will be spent creating artwork and mock-ups for customers and emailing them over for their approval, once I’ve had the approval I need to process the artwork so it’s print ready and send it over to our Customer Service team to then process the order. Along with the artwork side of things, I also run all of the social media and our website, so a chunk of time is typically spent on updating all of those and dealing with any enquiries we may receive via social media sites. In between the above work, I’ll keep a close eye on my emails and reply to any questions or artwork issues that arise. I also essentially manage most, if not all, of the marketing for the company, which is something quite new for me, so I’m very much learning as I go which is awesome as I’m getting to expand my knowledge and take on new challenges through my current job, something I’m sure many people don’t get to do unless they change jobs completely! On top of that I also manage two other sites which both require separate artwork, information and tracking, there are various other small jobs I do around the office such as managing stationary and IT so I can definitely say my job involves a wide range of tasks. My job is very much a juggling act and no two days are the same, it’s probably the part I enjoy the most about my job, it keeps things interesting and enjoyable.

4) What made you want to get into Graphic Design? Was there a specific moment when you fell in love with it all?
I think I fell in love with Graphic Design while I was freelancing, I was taking on such a variety of different and challenging projects, some of which I took on purely to try out new things. By challenging myself I began learning so much, as I found myself spending lots of time researching different techniques. I love creating new prints, logos, marketing materials and other branding, just using all of the inspiration around me and channelling that into something new I can create is exactly why I love graphic design and fall in love with it on a daily basis.

5) Did you take any specific classes or do any internships to help you gain experience and get into this job?
I think any experience within design studios is invaluable, over the years I’ve spent time at an architecture firm and also a lighting design company. Although both made me realise the careers I didn’t want to go into, I did learn an incredible amount at both. Design crosses paths everywhere, so even if it’s not exactly what you want to do, you’ll likely find many skills that are transferable. Along with experience a good degree is vital, although I studied BSc Product Design which many think is specific to designing products, its actually a lot more than that. It’s important to know that even the classes you might find pointless at uni, you need to work hard at as you never know when those skills may come up. I had a wide range of classes including business, manufacturing and maths and these have allowed me to become a more well-rounded designer and has probably given me a slight edge in interviews.

6) Can you think of any classes or extra curricular activities you done at university that have aided the work you do better?
The main extra curricular type thing I did at university was working as a Student Ambassdor, it really was one of my favourite experiences. I worked the full 4 years while I was at uni, and I was also part of their engineering specific ambassador programme which included working with secondary school children to build solar cars to race each other at the end of the year. I also did various bits of freelance work for friends and family while I was at uni which meant when I was applying for 3rd year placements I could actually prove that I was organised and keen to work hard. I always tried to do more than the minimum, as I knew the job market was highly competitive so I knew I needed something to keep myself motivated and also give me a slight edge on others.

7) What inspired you to get into blogging?
It was pretty therapeutic for me, my first ever blog was back when I was in secondary school, I kept it totally private from family and friends as I used to vent on there quite a lot and write a lot about all the mental health struggles I was having. I deleted that blog a couple of years after I started it, despite having quite a large number of followers, I hit a stage in my life where I wanted to ignore everything and that was part of it. The main reason I started up this blog was because while I was a uni I wanted something different to do, I wanted something that wasn’t  related to my ‘career’ plans, I just wanted a little space on the internet I could write about stuff that interested me and would keep me inspired with life in general.

8) Do you see your blog as a means of showing your passion for your subject?
My blog is quite a mixture of topics, I only write about stuff that I genuinely find interesting or that I’m passionate about. One of the biggest and consistant passions I write about is mental health. I try to write posts every so often as trying to get rid of the stigma that’s heavily attached to those suffering any sort of mental health problem is something very close to my heart. Having suffered with various mental health problems over the years, it’s something that is very important for me to write about. My passion for my blog is writing about life, whether it’s the good, fun and exciting or the bad, ugly and upsetting, and I definitely hope that passion comes across in all of my posts.

9) Did you take any particular classes or courses growing up that lead to your choice to start blogging?
I didn’t take any classes or courses, everything I’ve learned has been organically or through my normal school and university classes. I definitely prefer learning though teaching myself, there is so many books and articles online that you can look up and I tend to try and learn new things myself as I feel I stay more motivated that way.

10) Can you tell us a little bit about a typical day blogging for you?
I’ll be honest, usually it can be quite chaotic! I’m trying to juggle writing posts around a busy work/life schedule, which often means attempting to write more than one post in a day or evening. I try to take all of the pictures I need in one go, edit and then just sit down to type up everything, as otherwise I’m likely to get distracted and run away with ideas. I do tend to write quite late at night, as there’s little distraction which allows me to just focus and get a lot of writing done, plus I’ve suffered with insomnia for years which definitely gives me lots of time to write!

11) How do you manage your time to run your blog efficiently and consistently?
I’m trying to stick to a better schedule and regular posting days to help organise my ‘blogging life’ a little more as sometimes it can take quite a back seat. I’ve got a big list of blog ideas written down which definitely keeps my motivation going. If I’m not crossing any of them off it’s usually because I’ve haven’t been writing at all which means I need to sort myself out. I think having exciting things to write about makes it a lot easier to stay efficient at blogging, when I’m doing lots it’s great for my writing and allows me a buffer off time when there’s less going on as I’ll likely have posts already scheduled.

12) Where do you look for inspiration when the writers block hits?
As bad as it sounds I just look around my room or think about things I’ve done recently and just sit and write a short post about something asap. I find that as soon as I get one post out, even just a short simple one the inspiration starts flooding in. By the time I finish the post I’ll have 10 ideas for the next ones. I don’t always publish these posts, I just find writing through my block opens my inspiration up and gets the ideas flowing. I think it’s important to find something that works for you, try out lots of different things and you’ll soon find a way to work through the block.

13) As I'm a reader of your blog, what do you hope I take away when I read your posts?
With my general posts I hope you can learn something new, find them funny or just have a good read about something interesting. With my mental health posts, I want readers to find some strength in what I’m writing, whether it’s to open up and talk to someone, seek help or just know that they are not alone is the most important thing for me. I took a lot of comfort from reading different blogs growing up who also wrote about their mental health struggles, it’s very important to engage with others and if my blog can help even just one person with their mental health that would be amazing.

14) Are there certain topics/genres you stick to when you write your blog posts or do you like to write whatever comes naturally at the time?
I tend to just write whatever comes naturally at the time, a little like how my mind works, I really enjoy writing about a wide range of topics, as that’s life! My life is full of so many different amazing experiences that I want to write about everything, whether it’s good or bad. Plus, it keeps it exciting for me as I don’t even know what’s round the corner for my blog sometimes.

15) Has having your blog opened any doors or provided you with any opportunities that you wouldn't have had otherwise?
My blog has definitely given me new opportunities, from attending different events or being offered to work with brands is definitely pretty cool and something that wouldn’t happen otherwise. It’s not something I actively seek out though, so I’ve probably not had as many opportunities as other bloggers as I never started blogging for free events or products, so anything I do get is a total bonus to be honest.

16) What advice would you give to someone starting their own blog?
Really think about why you’re starting the blog, with the huge surge in blogs and people wanting to, I guess, recreate the whole Zoella story, I think it’s really important to know why you want a blog and what you want to write about. Don’t get into it for freebies, it’s honestly unlikely you may ever get anything, getting those things comes from hard work and writing good content, it’s not something that will just fall into your lap.

17) What in your opinion makes a successful blog?
Creating interesting content for readers, I feel like whether you have 1 follower or 100k, creating amazing content is what makes it successful. Some of my favourite blogs have way under 500 followers and they hold my attention far more than blogs with over 100k followers. Of course in the eyes of many the number of followers will dictate how successful your blog is, but to me it’s all about the content, whether it’s just well written or using great photography or whether you’re doing something totally new.

18) Are there any bloggers you admire or try to emulate?
I do love a lot of different blogs, but I can’t say there is any I’m actively trying to emulate. If you’re a blogger who’s sticking at it and writing great posts I’ll likely admire you’re talent or dedication, but there is many of those types of bloggers on my reading list so I don’t feel like I could name particular ones.

19) What apps/purchases really helped you with your blog? Do you have any programmes or items that you use that really help step up the quality of your blogs appearence/content?
The most important purchase for me was my own domain name, it immediately makes your blog look 100x more professional, team that with a nice layout and good quality images it’ll immediately step up the overall quality of your blog. Having a blog was part of the reason I invested in a DSLR camera back in my first year of Uni, it’s the camera I still use and travel with so I definitely highly recommend picking up a camera you can rely on to give you good quality images. Now that doesn’t meant it has to be a DLSR, you need to learn and practice taking great pictures, as just having a good camera won’t equal great pictures, and purchasing some sort of photo editing software would also ensure you’re imagery is the best it can be – I personally use Adobe Photoshop for editing all of my images.

20) Do you feel that a blog is a helpful tool in pursuing a career after university?
It’s definitely a very helpful tool in pursuing a career after university, it can showcase a wide range of your skills and if you keep to it consistently while job hunting it’ll show potential employers that not only do you have a creative hobby but also shows that you can motivate yourself.
 
21) Finally, if you had one piece of golden advice to give someone with a struggling blog following, what would it be?
Don’t focus on the follower number, granted that’s easier said than done but focus on creating amazing content and hopefully the followers will eventually find you. Focusing on follower numbers will just dishearten you and may even lead you to writing about things that you’re not passionate about, which even if the count goes up, you’ll likely be just as miserable or give up writing altogether.


You can view Ambers blog here: Bambi-Bell