A Floral Treat for your Tech

A Floral Treat for your Tech 

Every year I get so excited to take my camera out when the spring flowers start to bloom, our daily dog walks are filled with the sights of bluebells, apple blossom and forget me nots. I don’t think I’ve ever appreciated the sight of the world reawakening more than I have this year so I thought I’d celebrate some of my favourite florals in this post. Please feel free to use these images for your phone and laptop backgrounds, just in case you’re missing out on Spring florals.

FIVE APPS EVERY BLOGGER NEEDS.

I always say that a bloggers day never stops – I count time spent on social media as hours clocked, and I’m constantly thinking of ideas for new content, planning Instagram posts and more.
I spend a lot of that time on my phone – in fact my iPhone is never far from me at all times! It just helps me to stay ahead of my to-do list, as well as keep in touch with my readers.
With that in mind, there’s a lot of Apps I use to help me do my blogging thang…

Mosaico
This is actually a recent discovery for me, but since VSCO updated, I’ve been in need of something to help plan my Instagram feed.
I’ve said before ( I watched this How I Take My Instagram Pictures video) that I don’t really subscribe to the whole Instagram theme thing, but sometimes you do want to have an idea of how it will come together.
For that, I use Mosaico. It shows your feed in full, and you can add photos from your library to get an idea of how they’ll look. What’s more, you can go in to ‘ghost mode’ to see what your feed will look like if you delete a picture or two. Very handy!

Bloom & Wild
I’m calling it, fresh flowers at the click of a button is an amazing concept and so helpful if you need pretty props for an upcoming post!
If I know I’m working on a campaign and the photos need to be extra special, a bunch of blooms will turn the snap around.
I always order from Bloom & Wild, the letterbox flowers are so ideal if you don’t want to wait in all day for the delivery, and having the App makes the process all too effortless.

Evernote
I am forever planning posts, making notes, jotting down my thoughts… and Evernote allows me to take this to the next level!
Evernote allows you to pretty much store everything – from to-do lists and reminders, to little notes, and you can organise it all pretty thoroughly too. I also like that you can take photos of notes and receipts and things too, it’s just so helpful for leafing through all the clutter.
Plus, the App syncs with your laptop, tablet etc. so you’ll never be without your lists!

Hootsuite
Scheduling social media is one of my least favourite jobs, it’s just SUCH a hassle! I usually try to send out a few tweets a day, with blog links or a link to my Instagram etc. and Hootsuite makes that so easy.
I use Hootsuite for desktop and iPhone, and it makes light work of keeping up with your social profiles. You can choose up to three accounts in the free setting, so there’s no excuses for not replying to tweets and messages!

bit.ly
I love, love, love bit.ly! Sure, it’s just a link shortener but it’s so handy for making your social updates a little sleeker.
I recommend getting a short URL and hooking it up to bit.ly, it looks way more professional!
I find the App is great for when you’re using affiliate links or trying to update your blog Facebook page on the go.

YouTube Creator Studio 
This is an extra one because I did say ‘bloggers’ and not ‘vloggers’, but I thought I’d add this in since it’s new to me!
I didn’t know YouTube offered an App for content creators, it was the one thing I’ve been missing as I always use my time on the go to reply to comments.
The Creator Studio App allows you to keep track of views and comments and view analytics on the go, it’s beyond helpful!

Have you tried any of these Apps? Are there any you recommend for bloggers and content creators?

What’s on my Iphone XR

What’s on my Iphone XR

I have a Iphone XR in red which was a gift by my parents for my late birthday. I got a case which is Disney's lilo and Stitch, from E-bay. These are my favourites Apps which I use the most:

Instagram

Yes, like most people in the world I love Instagram! I am forever looking through my feed checking out what people are up to on their photos or little videos as well!

Wizards Unite

It’s so much fun when playing this app!  I love the game, this is the best; you should totally download the app. When I start playing I cannot stop and the good thing about it, in my opinion, it only changes its layout once in awhile! Well I do want to say thanks to the makers and creators Niantic, inc. for this app! 

VSCO

I'm still learning how to use the App at the moment it is complicated!

IGTV

Update: Went back to an older version reinstalled and did an update for new one...worked like a charm. IGTV app is back up and running.

Gmail

 The app works seamlessly through receiving and sending. It's also extremely useful to have Drive work with the app which makes sending a pdf file easy. Really well designed and thought out app.

Relax Melodies: Sleep Sounds to Calm & Meditate

This is a really great app to fall asleep to. I can't be without it now, and I've been using it for a couple of years. I probably don't use all the options as much as I should, like the meditation exercises etc but the choice of sounds are so varied. I have to admit that the free version, which I put up with for ages, did annoy me with the ads and restricted sounds.

10 Easy Ways You Can 'Go Green' in the Office

It's no secret that sadly we are having a very negative impact on our planet and 

the environment we live in. Thankfully, the subject is now being brought up more than ever 

and as a nation we are encouraging and inviting people to think about their lifestyle choices, 

and see how they can be altered to prevent further damage to our environment. 

And these changes don't just have to come from your households.

 There are various ways in which we can implement these changes at work too.

Seareach recently conducted a survey to find out which factors play an important part 

in improving our workspaces by going green. 

Whether you work in shared offices, or work at an at home office like me,

 these easy tips are something we can all do to play our part in saving our planet.

1. Go paperless

Seareach found that going paperless will actually have the biggest impact of all the points. 

Instead of having piles upon piles of papers, and files, storing everything digitally 

and ultimately reducing the amount of paper used is definitely the way forward with going greener.

2. Recycling Bins

Now it may seem like an obvious choice to simply recycle, but in the workplace it's not always that simple. 

Think about it, whilst at home we often separate our rubbish to recycle, 

but we don't tend to do this at work. Usually this is because in the office, clearly labelled recycling bins 

aren't available, or we're not made aware of them. 

By changing this, you can encourage those at work to consciously separate their items into the appropriate bins. 

3. Use Solar Panels

Solar panels are made out of Photovoltaic cells that convert the sun's energy into electricity.

 Installing solar panels will provide you with a green renewable energy source in which you can run lighting, 

and run any appliances around the office. 

4. Switch to LED bulbs

Another sure way to reduce the amount of energy being consumed, 

is switching your light bulbs to LED bulbs. 

Not only can this reduce energy consumption by up to 75%, 

but it is also very cost effective so will save you money in the long run!

5. Green heating

Switching to 'Green' heating is an alternative way of generating energy that can be renewable, 

and sustainable. 

Not only that, but they can also be cheap and easy to install! 

These sources of energy don't cause pollution in the same way as traditional fossil fuels.

 For example, heating your homes and workspaces using coal or gas pollutes the air as it needs to be burned. 

6. Reusable bottles

Encouraging people around the workplace to bring in their own water bottles is a simple, 

and small step which can have a big impact on the environment. 

By doing so, you are reducing the number of  discarded plastic used in and around the office. 

7. Install bike facilities

For those who live close by, cycling to work could be an option for them instead of driving. Installing bike racks can encourage employees to do so, and ultimately reducing the amount of pollution created by driving unnecessarily. 

8. Electric Car Charging 

And for those who maybe live a little further away, and simply can't cycle to work there is

 always more eco friendly ways to drive. Electric cars are more greener to run and 

are more energy efficient by up to 85%. 

For anyone in the office who does have an electric car, make sure you have charging points at your workplace 

installed for them!

9. Motion detection Lighting

Another small step you can do to reduce energy consumption is install motion detection lighting. 

This can be ideal for larger workplaces where rooms can often be left unattended and 

unused for periods of time. 

10. Plants & Natural Light Sources

And my final tip is to optimise any natural sources you can in the office. 

Try placing desks near any windows you may have to minimise the use of artificial lighting. 

You can also decorate offices with various plants and flowers which are not only aesthetically pleasing, 

but will help oxygenate the work space, providing fresh clean air and an overall better environment. 

HOW TO MANAGE EMAIL OVERLOAD: 5 TIPS WHICH NIXED MY INBOX DAEMONS

HOW TO MANAGE EMAIL OVERLOAD: 5 TIPS 

WHICH NIXED MY INBOX DAEMONS

I used to absolutely DREAD my emails. My inbox was a daemon-like figure with a head which would grow back the moment I chopped it off! Sound familiar? Since then, ‘how to manage email overload’ is a topic I’ve become VERY friendly with.

After implementing a few new tactics myself, I feel like I might *just* have defeated my inbox daemons.

Here’s how I’ve been tackling my inbox of late, so that most days I am fully on top of it.

Sometimes even (whisper it!) at inbox zero!

HOW TO MANAGE EMAIL OVERLOAD: 5 TACTICS WHICH NIXED MY INBOX DAEMONS

1 – UNSUBSCRIBE FROM (NEARLY) EVERYTHING

After a conversation with a blogger friend of mine, when we both lamented our unmanageable emails, I revisited my inbox and dug deep into my newsletter sign-ups.

I was SHOCKED (like truly jaw on the floor) at the number of newsletters I has unconsciously signed up to!

Not to mention the number of databases which I’d been added to.

I was signed up to brand emails, blog roundups, educational resources . . . you name it!

From that moment onwards I started to unsubscribe from (nearly) everything.

Unless a newsletter truly added VALUE to my inbox, I unsubscribed.

Slowly but surely I systematically worked through my subscriptions, and suddenly my inbox OPENED UP.

I realised that it wasn’t just the time I spent reading these emails (since I barely read any of them!), but the time and head space I allocated to selecting them and deleting them which was creating inbox fatigue.

2 – SHORTEN YOUR REPLIES

I enjoy the process of writing, and historically I’ve carried this passion through to my (long, descriptive!) emails.

Whilst there is nothing wrong with writing a personality-filled message, if each email takes a long time to write, you are quickly going to rack up the hours in your inbox.

I’ve been there!

Nowadays I’ve learnt to shorten my replies.

I still infuse elements of my personality into my emails, but if a short and sweet message is all that is needed, I’ll aim to stick to that.

3 –  CREATE TEMPLATES

Do you find yourself writing the same email over and over again?

Consider creating a template!

An email template will save you SO much time, and ensure that you’re replying to your emails in a tone you’re confident with.

I identified seven common questions I am asked over email, and I have created a template reply for every one.

These templates still leave room for customisation and personalised details, but it saves me typing out the same response many times over.

If you’re unsure of how to create an email template, simply google your email server + ‘template’ and you will find instructions.

4 – TURN OFF NOTIFICATIONS

I have never had email notifications turned on, on any of my devices.

That way I don’t get distracted by the ‘ping’ of a new email, and instead consciously opt into my inbox.

I set aside dedicated time (normally an hour or so per slot), to answer my emails in full.

When you are trying to juggle many things, it’s not always possible to get to ‘inbox zero’ and that is OK.

If I can, I’ll empty my inbox completely. But if I’m out of time I log out and save the rest of my emails for another sitting.

I read a quote recently which said that “answering emails is not your job” and I couldn’t agree more! Emails are part of your job, a supporting role to it, but emails are not the be all and end all of what you do.

5 – DELETE OLD UNANSWERED EMAILS

If inbox overload has truly settled in, and you are staring at 2,000 unanswered messages, I give you permission to go ahead and DELETE.

(After you’ve had a quick scan to check that there is nothing REALLY important in there!)

If someone really wants to reach out to you, or needs a reply from you, they will email you again.

SOMETHING TO PONDER . . .

If after employing all of these strategies, you are still drowning in emails, it may be time to consider getting assistance.

If you run your own business, can you take on a part-time assistant, a freelancer or a VA?

Do you need to use an auto-responder to manage peoples’ expectations?

If you work for a company, can your manager allocate you an assistant, or divvy up your responsibilities?

Remember: your inbox should SUPPORT your work, not become it.

WHAT’S YOUR TAKE?

Do you suffer from inbox overwhelm? If so, how do you handle your emails?

Can you share any tips of your own?

I’d love to hear from you!

Monday To Friday: Suggested Podcast Listening

I. LOVE. PODCASTS. I listen to podcasts in the shower. I listen to podcasts whenever I have to travel. I listen to podcasts whilst I do tasks that allow me to complete them and listen at the same time. I listen to podcasts whilst I clean, eat and cook. You see I’ve never been a huge T.V watcher. Sure I’m partial to a Amazon prime video binge from time to time, but we’re not one of those families who have the T.V on the background. It’s probably because we have poor hearing and aren’t great a multi-tasking, but because of this I can go a fair few days without turning the T.V on. 

Of course YouTube and streaming apps have made the whole thing portable from your phone and that has meant that I’ve consumed a lot more video content over the past couple of years. If I’ve been in the toilet for 20 minutes it’s because I’m two episodes in to a Shane Dawson series, or something has gone seriously wrong. Over the past couple of months however, the podcast/video balance has shifted and I’ve begun to listen to podcasts over any other kind of media. It’s so easy and entertaining! There’s one for every mood! And more to the point of this post, there’s one for everyday of the week…

MONDAY: Grazia Life Advice. OK, it’s Monday and the chances are you need something motivational. Like ‘YEAH, let’s get ’em!’-type content, but not the type that makes you yawn or not feel good enough. Although I’ve enjoyed business-focused podcasts in the past, I actually prefer more casual ones these days and like ones that have a rotating roster of guests, so that there’s always something new and fresh feeling about it. Although this podcast usually comes out mid-week, I like to save it for a Monday and soak up all the guest’s life-advice that sings to me, like a sponge. Guys – a few week’s ago they had the Queer Eye guys on. ALL FIVE OF THEM. It was amazing.

TUESDAY: Popcast/Breaking Beauty/Couples Therapy. Tuesday is a strange day of the week. Sometimes it’s my most productive, but sometimes my least. I actually tend to shoot most of my photos for the blog on a Tuesday, so more often than not my day is spent not at my desk and having a slightly longer podcast to listen to works for me as I can dip back in and out of it as I get pockets of time to do so. Sometimes I fancy some music commentary – enter Popcast, the New York Times podcast that dissects everything from Drake to Ashlee Simpson. Maybe I fancy something beauty focused? There isn’t actually many beauty podcasts out there, as I guess the main format for that content is usually visual, but I enjoy Breaking Beauty which is made over in Canada and contains interviews with some incredible brand founders (they just had the Co-Founder of MAC on!). Or maybe I just want to listen to two people bicker/talk about relationships and for that Couples Therapy is the often heart-warming perfect pick.

THURSDAY: The High Low. Whilst my Friday recommendation is perhaps my most favourite entertaining podcast, this is my favourite to listen to whenever I want to feel entertained, but also informed about stuff that really matters. The hosts, Dolly and Pandora, are serious girl crush material and I love delving into their reading recommendations once I’ve finished each episode. They don’t always agree, which I think is an important point to hammer home that it’s ok to disagree with your pals from time to time, but their friendship speaks volumes and it’s probably the podcast that I’ve cried the most at, whenever they do a reading of a piece of work that’s a real tear-jerker. It sounds dramatic, but I feel like I’m a better person for listening – more enriched at least. They’re currently taking a well-deserved break for August, but will back in the autumn and I’ll be ready and waiting for their return.

FRIDAY: Who Weekly? I know I’ve mentioned it before but Who Weekly? is one of my favourite podcasts that makes me howl. I laugh. I makes me do an inner shoulder-shaking chuckle on the tube. It’s funny! It’s light-entertainment and if you love z-list celebs and you visit the Daily Mail sidebar of shame more often than you’d like to admit (I’ve definitely decreased my browsing but blame the recent Love Island conclusion for my recent increase in activity), then this is the podcast for you. I am forever grateful to the Glossier employee who recommended it, as being a U.S based pod I’m not sure I ever would have stumbled across it. That does mean that it focuses mainly from ‘celebs’ from the other side of the pond and I know more than I ever need to know about Bachelor contestants, but ocassionally good ol’ Gemma Collins gets a mention. Team G.C! It’s released on a Tuesday and Friday, but I often save them as the last ones to listen to when I’ve exhausted the rest of my feed. The hosts Bobby and Lindsey have a cracking back and forth and the inside jokes come thick and fast. I’d say you have to get a solid 10 episodes until until you become a stan (inside joke – LOLZ). Good form Bella Thorne.

What’s on my Iphone 5 SE?

What’s on my Iphone 5 SE?

I have a Iphone SE in Rose Gold which was a gift by my parents for my late birthday. I got a case which is Disney's lilo and Stitch,from Ebay. These are my favourites Apps which I use the most:

Instagram (http://instagram.com/mylunarose)

Yes, like most people in the world I love Instagram! I am forever looking through my feed checking out what people are up to on their photos or little videos as well!

Subway Surfers

It’s so much fun when playing this app!  I love the game, this is the best; you should totally download the app. When I start playing I cannot stop and the good thing about it, in my opinion, it only changes its layout once in awhile! Well I do want to say thanks to the makers and creators Kiloo for this app! 

VSCO

I'm just learning how to use the App at the moment!

Hyperlapse

Works excellently well, but.. The stabilisation is extremely good in some cases even better than OIS on some phones. Small issue is that the app seems to add a, what looks like, filter on top of the video after processing it, this can make the video look distorted and makes it look like there is an artificial light.

Rituals 

Relaxing Perfect app that helps me to relax

Gmail

 The app works seamlessly through receiving and sending. It's also extremely useful to have Drive work with the app which makes sending a pdf file easy. Really well designed and thought out app.

Unboxing: Iphone 5SE

Unboxing: Iphone 5 S.E

On Saturday I went to Kingston upon Thames and finally got my Iphone 5SE in rose gold in the apple store in the Bentall Centre Mall.

The box is really pretty I think white and  rose gold pink!

When I took it out it was so pretty to look at white and pink. 

Things Every Blogger Should Have

Things Every Blogger Should Have

The basic blogger’s kit

Trust me, every blogger’s setup is different and as you learn and expand your skills as a blogger things might change, but here are a few items that I think every blogger needs to start out and a few points you might actually considered.

Camera

What would a blog post be without images? I’m not going to recommend a specific make and model as not everyone needs the same thing. There is a large variety of equipment out there to suit every budget and need so it does depend on your skill level and dedication.

I personally use the Nikon Coolpix 10x wide full HD, but that’s just my preferred set up. I’d really recommend researching cameras and learning how to use them properly. Check the photography tips section for some basic tips on blogging photography. 

Two things to certainly keep in mind when thinking about investing in a camera are, first of all, that flip out screens are SO handy when taking self shots and setting up scenes. Secondly, I’d recommend investing in extra lenses for your camera, as that what makes the camera “see” and can improve the quality infinitely compared to buying an expensive body.

However, for starting out you could probably even get away with just using the camera on your smartphone. Whilst it might not be the best solution, at least you will have something to start with. When you get to the point that you are ready to commit to blogging, then it might be time to look for professional camera options to take your blog to the next level.

Spare Battery 

There is nothing worse than setting up a pretty bloggable scene than turning on your camera and seeing the dreaded red battery bar. Keep a charged backup within arms reach at all times! I actually have three spare batteries for both my vlogging camera and my main camera. This way I don't get caught out. Some Cameras even have AC sockets and plugs that you can use to power your camera without needing the battery to be charged. It reminds me that I must buy one for my new camera actually!

Tripod and a Remote 

An absolute blogging must have. The tripod can be used to take self shots, reducing the shaky hand syndrome, and a remote adds a hands-free approach to your photo taking. You can pick up remotes for most cameras and once you get one it’ll change your life.

External Hard drive

I cannot stress how important this is, both for blogging and non-blogging things! After a laptop crash and loosing all my precious files in 2010, I forever worry about my computer dying and losing everything, including my years and years of photographs and videos. Having an external hard drive in your blogging arsenal is an absolute must have. Religiously back up your important files as you never know when you might need them. 

Extra Memory Cards

Having one 8GB card is simple not enough, well unless you're super diligent about deleting files that you've transferred to your computer. Me on the other hand is useless at this so I always have a backup of memory cards on hand. These can be picked up super cheap on Amazon these days so well worth investing in a few!

Notebooks

Sometimes writing things down by putting pen to paper is a better way to keep your thoughts together than scrambling to write them all down in your smartphones’ note section. Keep all your creative ideas in the same place so you can refer back to them as and when you need a spark of inspiration.

Portable Charger

Tbh, I'd recommend everyone getting one of these if they are a blogger or not. When you spot a fire Instagram opportunity and you have decide between taking that snap or being able to call your Dad for a lift home. Keeping a portable charger on hands means you're constantly powered up and do not have to scramble for the nearest Starbucks to plug in your phone!

https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/mylunarose-12509515

DIY decorate your iPhone wireless

DIY decorate your iPhone wireless

I decorate my old iPhone wireless putting the tap from the shop called Tiger and rapping it around like a spiral then putting tap around ether end and there you have it! 

The iPhone wireless and Tiger tap 

Rapping 

Rapping in a spiral

Start to rap around  either end

The finished look