angelina is, 1.5 (a somewhat relaunch)

As my blog grows and becomes more "professional", I've been thinking a lot about the steps full time or well known bloggers seem to have taken. I've been reading a lot of articles advertising tips and tricks "every blogger has to know", and have taken them with a grain of salt. 

So here's Angelina Is, version 1.5, as well as some easy steps to make your blog even better!

I hesitate to call this 2.0 because that warrants a huge change, and drastic improvement. At this point, I don't have the time, nor resources to really amp up production, but I do want to make my space on the Internet somewhat more personal and professional.

I keep throwing out the word "professional", not because I'm going into blogging with an expectation to make money, or have anything life altering opportunities, but because of lack of a better adjective to describe where I want to go.

You can see a little bit of my brainstorming up above, though that is the sanitized and "prettified" version. My actual thoughts would likely involve quite a bit more swearing and scribbles.

But as you can see, I'm trying to think of some categories I can really commit to, and dedicate numerous posts to. When I started this blog, it was a lifestyle blog, due to the fact that I don't have enough original outfits to be devoted purely to fashion, and don't know anything about makeup to save my life. To this day, I still can't figure out eyeliner.

I was happy with my self categorization of lifestyle blog up until a few weeks ago, when I was reading a post on the Nectar Collective a while ago, that basically said if you narrow your scope, you'll actually receive more numbers (subscribers, readers, commentors, etc.), than if you have a wide range of subjects.

The more I thought about it, the more it makes sense. If I'm interested in fashion, and a certain blog has a little bit of fashion, but also a little bit of vegan food recipes, knitting tips, and plant care, I won't visit it as much.

However, I still have no idea what category I fall into. And so, I made a little graphic organizer of what my readers most likely look like to help me figure things out.

So there we are. After writing it, I realized I basically described myself, so I'm not too sure how helpful it was in my case, but maybe for you, it will be!

When creating this organizer, I thought, "What kind of person would read my blog?", which would lead me to the question, "What sort of posts would this person like to read?"

These are mostly the topics I already enjoy writing about, simply put in a more visual form. If you're a new visitor and are looking for an idea of what you'd be seeing here, this is it!

Of course, if you don't fall into any of these categories, that doesn't mean you're not allowed in this exclusive club of Angelina Is readers (although if a club did exist, it would be full of the coolest and kindest people ever, so you would all be in it). Feel free to read away!

A wise person I know (thanks Ira!) wrote a post about the Pareto principle which claims that 80% of your outcome comes from 20% of your input. Meaning to succeed, your content should be 20%, and promotion should be 80%.

While I'm not too sold on the numbers, I do think I need a bit more promotion. Currently, I'm probably at about 70% content, 30% promotion, with my main form of promotion being commenting on other blogs (I do read everything, because I'd like to respect the work put into every post. Also bloggers can tell!)

With school starting up again, this has been dramatically reduced, and as a result, so have my views and interaction with readers. So I've been thinking I need a better, less time consuming way!

My main thing is that I'm thinking of creating a dedicated blog Instagram. I already have a personal as well as a photography, so I'm still a little hesitant to create a 3rd account I have to manage and build, but it seems like the best way to build readership.

I'm also hoping to do a giveaway when I pull my act together and have enough money in a few months, as well as get some fresh voices on the blog, since I feel as though I've defined my voice.

Domain name is still up in the air - based on preliminary research, it doesn't seem to be too pricey, but it seems so permanent and official. I'm not sure I'm ready to commit to that, but it's such a tempting idea!

With this very long and verbose post, I have a few questions I would be so appreciative of if you could give your thoughts on:

*What type of posts do you guys like/dislike to read? It can be from my blog or in general. 
*What's one thing that completely turns you off a blog/post?
*Do you follow bloggers on Instagram? If so, what makes you want to follow them, and what will make you unfollow?
*What sort of giveaway would you be interested in?
*How much promoting of your blog do you do, and have you found it beneficial?
*Lastly, is anyone interested in doing some guest posts for each other?

Thank you all so much for reading and visiting. It truly means the world to me, and I'm always open to hearing feedback, both positive and critical.

xx

Angelina

p.s. my social media links have been added in the top menu (the ones I have anyways)!

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(edit: some clarification - I'm not going into blogging full time right now, nor do I expect financial gains. this is more my way to consolidate and strengthen my blog with the hope that it'll open doors in the field I'm interested in (fashion), as well as allow me to meet new people)

musings: the importance of friends

A few days ago, I spent 24 hours with one of my friends. We hadn't really seen each other in a few months due to school, but it was really nice and we had a great time together. 

With friends, I think it's important to be friends with people who make you feel great about yourself. 

While somewhat cliche, I had a friend who I was felt like I was competing with. We did have our moments where we laughed and bonded, but at the end of the day, it was a competition of who got more likes, who had better clothes, even silly things like who studied the least for school. 

It was an unhealthy relationship, and at the time, I was scared of being alone and not having any friends, so I stuck with it. 

While I know there are some people who are ok with and prefer to be alone in social settings, I'm not one of them. I care too much about what people will think of me, and how I'll be perceived - antisocial, awkward, weird, a loner. 

Sometimes I stay friends with people who are toxic because of this, but I'm slowly realizing when I should give it up, and when it's just miscommunication and my high standards. 

After many bridges burned beyond recognition, I've realized this:

1. Let people know when you're feeling a certain way: They can't be expected to know why you're suddenly ignoring them, so speak up and let them know why and what you feel. Simply trying to drop hints is not going to get you anywhere, and will probably have them feeling negative towards you. 

2. Sleep on it before making any rash decisions: I've made many terrible choices because I was caught up in the moment, and decided to act on a whim. I regret all of them, and have lost many friends because of it. Always sleep on it, and you'll find something that seemed to be a deal breaker doesn't seem important at all now. 

3. Be ok with drifting apart: It happens naturally, and although it's hard to accept the fact that your best friend now may be a stranger in a year, it's part of growing up. Don't take it the wrong way and decide to completely wreck your friendship because you're upset (I actually did do this when I was growing up). It'll be really awkward, and karma will make it so that you end up having to see each other again. 

4. Be appreciative of your friends: Notice the little things and thank them for it. It means they really care about you, and they think of you in their everyday life. 

BONUS: Some photos we took at the beach that don't really fit in anywhere else. I was originally hoping for clear skies so we'd get pinks and purples on the water while the sun was setting, but it was foggy, and we ended up with some soft lighting instead. 

I'm actually okay with how they came out, I think I might have still preferred the dramatic lighting, but when the weather is that sunny, there are much more people at the beach. 

We spent the whole day together, and I made a little video of all the things we did. You can watch it here, or down below!

What's your favorite thing about your best friend? Do you have any lessons about friendship? What'd you think of the video - should I make more like it? Let me know in the comments!

xx

Angelina

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p.s. you can see two different outfits I wore on this trip here (classy) and here (casual)!

book review: fashion, art, and photography edition

Since I was little, I've rarely bought and kept books, because I would go through them so quickly it didn't make sense to spend money on something I'd read once. But now, I've started to appreciate certain "coffee table" books, and have started growing my collection again. 

This month, I'll be reviewing NYC: Basic Tips and Etiquette by Nathan Pyle, Isms by Stephan Little, The Teen Vogue Handbook, It, and Humans of New York by Brandon Stanton. 

it by alexa chung

I'm a big fan of Alexa Chung's style, and the way she always looks chic without trying to hard. She seems like a fun, bubbly person - an older, more sophisticated version of Taylor Swift basically. I happened to receive this as a gift, but I probably wouldn't buy it with my own money. 

There are some short anecdotes, but they're sort of rambling with no real sense of direction. It's how I imagine looking into Alexa's diary might be like. There are some polaroid-esque photos, as well as drawings, but nothing too mind-blowing or high quality. She does write a decent amount about her early influences, and fashion at that time. 

All in all, this book is mainly for the aesthetics and Alexa Chung, not the reading. 

-isms by stephan little 

I originally came across this book while researching for a school paper, and I'm really glad I did. It's chock full of information about art history in a reference style layout, but it's not dry or boring (at least for me). It covers from Renaissance to Post Modernism, with each art style taking up a page. 

It's light and small, so it would be perfect to slip into your back at a museum, so you really sound like you know what you're talking about. There are lots of full page artworks, and some sections for specific museums. 

I would definitely buy this - it's worth the money and it makes you look well educated ((:

nyc: basic tips and etiquette by nathan pyle

I've always wanted to live in New York, so I got this book from the library hoping to gain a little more insight into what it's like there. It's a much smaller book than I imagined, and a very quick read. The tips are all accompanied by drawings, and there are about 135 in total. 

Many of the tips were things that should be common sense, but probably aren't in today's world. It basically reminds you to be conscious of others, along with some sightseeing tips specific to NYC. 

I would get it as a gift for someone moving there, or for my room, especially since it's so cheap. I'm not completely sold on the usefulness of it though - there are probably many blogs about living in New York. 

the teen vogue handbook

I've always been interested in the fashion world, and curious about whether I could make it as a photographer, designer, or blogger. Although I'm sure the fashion insiders covered in the book have all done many interviews you can watch on Youtube, it's helpful to have them compiled in this format for me. 

It's sectioned into designers, models, beauticians, bloggers, editors, etc, so you can definitely find whatever you're curious about in the fashion industry. The trends are a bit old (~2009), but the advice is timeless. 

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who's even considering the fashion industry as a career, or just interested in fashion. It would be a great gift as well (I know I'd love to receive it ;))! 

humans of new york by brandon stanton

Over the last few years, you've definitely heard of Humans of New York - even if you're not on social media at all. The basic idea is interviewing strangers on the street in New York, and then getting a photo to accompany the quote. It's always surprised me how much people will share with a random person, and I love reading new posts on the Facebook page. 

There are many spinoffs of HONY for different cities, and I'm actually a part of the team in my city. It's completely independent of HONY and we take the same idea and apply it to our city. I've loved the experience, and it's helped me become a lot more outgoing and bold. For those of you who are good at photography or talking to people, I would definitely encourage you to see if there's a Humans Of group near you, or create your own! 

Although I love HONY, I'm not sure I would've bought the book with my own money (I received it as a gift). Many of the interviews are repeats from ones posted previously, and there weren't many long ones included. About a quarter of them were "Seen at ___" posts. The photography was great in print, and it'll be a nice coffee table book though. Apparently, he's coming out with a new book this fall with longer stories, so that might be interesting to try. 

Please do let me know if you've read any of these books and what you thought of them! I'd also love to hear any suggestions for books to read in the future.

xx

Angelina

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how to get through finals week sane

For me, finals week is next week, and I'm definitely dreading it. I've been trying to study (mostly unsuccessfully), but hopefully I'll turn a new leaf in time to make it through my classes.

Here are some tips I've found helpful for concentrating, relaxing, and making it through finals (and dead week!)

1. pandora's classical for studying station
My house isn't completely quiet, and I find it hard to concentrate when there are people talking, kids playing, or cars driving by. So I use Pandora's Classical For Studying Station with my speakers, on low volume, to block out unwanted noise.

I personally can't listen to songs with lyrics because they distract me, and studies have shown the lyrics take up space in your brain that could be used to exam material, so I wouldn't suggest it, but you do you!

2. (25/5)x2, 15
While this looks like some fancy math equation, it isn't! It's how I find is most productive to chunk time for me. I spend 25 mins concentrating on my material, reviewing the textbook, homework, and tests, and I take a 5 min break after that time is up. After 2 of these 30 min chunks, I take a longer, 15 min break.

I usually use my short break times to stand up, walk around my room, and go to the kitchen to restock. Sometimes I'll do some basic yoga stretching so I don't cramp up. On my longer breaks, I'll go talk to friends, walk outside, or play with my dog. I wouldn't recommend trying to squeeze in a TV episode or Youtube videos, as it's impossible to stop once you've started. Trust me, I've been down that hole many times!

3. be comfy
For me, this means no pants, sitting in my sleeping bag. It's always a little chilly in my room, and I like to be able to feel my toes without layers of socks or heating on full blast. Sleeping bags are made to be warm for subzero temperatures, so they work out for my room perfectly.

If this means clearing off your whole desk, turning on the fan, making sure you have food stockpiled, whatever, then go for it! My favorite thing to drink is Spicy Chai from Trader Joe's, even when it's 80 degrees out. It's hard enough to concentrate for long periods of time, much less in an uncomfortable environment.

4. make study guides/cheat sheets
Some classes let you have a page/index card of notes to use for finals. Even if they don't, I would strongly suggest making a page (or pages) of notes to study from. I try to do these 1-2 weeks beforehand, and I study exclusively from these. It's a lot easier to learn from your own words, and it helps really cement the material.

I also color code my notes for dates, names, and vocab (both specific to that time and in general). Develop a system that works for you and what you're learning, and try to stick to that. It'll save you lots of brainache if you choose the same thing for all your classes.

5. study with a friend (or don't!)
Study parties sound so fun, at least in theory. I've never gone to one, although I've been invited many times. I know I can't study as well with other people, and I'm bound to be pulled off task. My type of studying is alone, with music playing, through notes and review. However, I know some people study better out loud or with friends. If that's your thing, go for it and use it to you advantage! You just have to try it out and see what works best for you.

6. calculate your finals grade
I love this website. It has every possible way your finals may be scored, and it's been pretty accurate for me so far. Sometimes, you're really worried about a certain class, and once you put in all the numbers, turns out you could get a 50% on the final and still do alright.

7. realize that finals are not everything
Cliche as it sounds, grades and school are not the end all, be all. A bad grade one year will not drastically impact your life afterwards, and everything will be ok.

Much luck sent to everyone taking their finals soon!

Please let me know if you have any tips for making it through finals week, as I'm still struggling with that...

xx

Angelina

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where to get cute, cheap stickers + redbubble review

(Note: Some of this post has to do with feminism. I recognize that not all people identify with this idea, and that is fine. However, I request that you keep any negative comments about feminism to yourself. Thank you for respecting my views.) 

Recently, I was scrolling on Tumblr when I saw these super cute stickers promoting feminism, and I just had to get them! After Googling around, I decided to buy them from RedBubble. After the jump, read about my experience, and what I did with my stickers.

Redbubble is a website where artists submit designs, and you can buy them printed on stickers, laptop and phone cases, and almost anything you can think of. You could probably have your whole apartment decked out in one Redbubble print.

The stickers range from $2-$4 usually, but after 6, they become 50% off. Much more reasonably priced then. Shipping was about $2.50, which I find pretty overpriced considering it took about a week and a half to deliver, the shipping address was quite close to where I live, and it comes in a small, unpadded envelope. As a reference, when I ship clothes I've sold online, it's about $2.10 for a large padded envelope (8 oz - about 2 iPhone 5's).

They arrive in twos, like pictured above. I'm kind of tempted to order an odd number to see how they print them. 

Some of them are cut closer to the design, while others have a large white space around them. 

The material is smooth and seems like it would hold up even if wet. It's definitely not vinyl though, so I wouldn't recommend putting this on anything that regularly is wet. 

I didn't like how the borders were differently sized on each sticker, so I went ahead and trimmed most of them off. It also saves a lot more space so I can cram more of them onto my laptop. 

The stickers seem somewhat tough to remove, so I first laid everything out on my laptop the way I was planning to stick them on. 

I have to say I really like how unique they make my laptop look now, although the proximity of "Love Your Body" to the Apple logo is sort of bothering me. A tip for future use would be to keep your laptop on, so you know where the logo is. 

Personally, I'd love to receive stickers like these as a birthday or holiday present. They're on the cheap side, but still show you've thought about their likes and dislikes and really know them as a person. 

Are you planning to get any stickers from RedBubble or other sites in the future? Will they be for yourself or others? Let me know in the comments!

xx

Angelina

(Disclaimer: I was not reimbursed in anyway for my stickers from Redbubble. All opinions are my own). 

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