Blogger Spotlight: "The Mind of Court"

I had the chance to interview Courtney from "The Mind of Court ". She is a blogger from Australia. It is interesting that we, as bloggers, can connect  with other bloggers who lives thousands of miles away. Blogging is such a cool way to connect with others with the same hobby or passion.  You should check out her blog by clicking here.

Q: What made you decide to begin blogging?
A:I had always liked the idea of having a blog and documenting things that happened around me. It was not until I started my blog The Mind of Court that I actually had something to write about. I like traveling and I moved overseas so I thought that I those were two things people may be interested in. I am part of a Facebook group about Americans moving to Australia and I often saw a lot of questions and since I had gone through the process I found it would be easy to write everything in once place (a blog) for people to search on their own and find the REAL answers about moving abroad.

Q:What do you blog about?
A:I blog about travel and about my life living abroad in Australia as an Expat.

Q:What advice would you give to someone who is just beginning their blog?
A: Find out what you want your blog to be.. Meaning do you want it just as a record for yourself or do you actually want to make something out of it. Blogs can be seen as fun or a business. It was quite a steep learning curve for me. I started out free on wordpress, but after several months changed to self hosted and that was a bit of a challenge, but I managed. I'd say do some research, and that YOU can almost always find out how to do something by searching the Internet and will not have to pay for it. Don't sell yourself short, the ability to learn new things is possible if you put your mind to it.

Q:What’s the meaning behind your blog name?
A: My blog is called The Mind of Court. Basically my blog is a peak into my mind, the things I think about, my opinions and experiences. What you are reading is all me :)

Q:What’s one thing that you want your subscribers to know?
A:  I'd like my subscribers to know that everything I post about is for you. I want to share my adventures to inspire you that you can do it too and to take advantage whats around you. You may not have a lot of money, but hey neither do I! It may seem that I do since I go to all these amazing places and live in Australia, but I save a lot, I work two jobs, and often try to find the best bargains when planning my trips! It takes a bit of planning, but it is possible.

Q:Do you have any other social media sites?
A: Yep, I have a twitter @THEMindofcourt, an Instagram @courtneybrookehill, a pinterest account, Facebook page, and I'm also on bloglovin. My favorite is instagram and then twitter.

Q:How long have you been blogging?
A: I have been blogging for about 10 months!

Q:Have you ever had writer’s block? If so, what did you do to overcome it?
A: I have had writer's block several times! If I have writer's block I just shut down, wait, and keep going about life. Eventually I'll do or experience something and be like hey! I could write about this and then I do. There is no point in me writing something on my blog just for the sake of writing. You guys don't want to read worthless stuff so I only write when I have something to write about.

Q: What do you like to do beside blogging?
A: When I'm not blogging, I like to spend time at the beach/pool (if its warm), I often go watch Patrick's soccer games or spend time with family and friends. I am a very family oriented person so hanging around at home is all I need sometimes.

Q: What is your favorite place you have traveled to?
A:  I think so far my favorite place I've traveled to would be Melbourne, Australia. I love the city and its laneways. The coffee and atmosphere are like no other.

Q: What is your favorite book?
A: HARRY POTTER! I love these books I grew up reading them and own every book to ever come out.

Q:If you could be on any TV show, what show would you choose?
A: Hmm, this one is tough. I really like Gossip Girl when I was younger so maybe spending a day in the Upper East Side wouldn't be too bad?

Again, you should check out her blog, which you can find here. Thanks again Courtney for letting me interview you and help promote your blog.

<3 Amanda

Requests?

Hey guys,

I want to thank you all for reading my blog posts.  I just wanted to say once again if you guys have any request for a blog post/topic, please let me know. I hope you all are having a good start of the new year.


<3 Amanda

Blogger Spotlight: Doodle Me Travel

(www.doodlemetravel.com)

My next Blogger Spotlight is with Jessica and she's from Washington. Her blog is called "Doodle Me Travel". If you like to draw, travel or even both you should go check out her blog by clicking here. 

Q: What made you decide to begin blogging?

A: I started blogging because I really enjoy writing and art, and wanted a way to document and share my travels with friends and family. Over time I have discovered how much I love it and hope to share travel stories and inspiration to other people as well. 

Q: What do you blog about?

A:I write about my favorite travel stories, ways to be an ethical traveler, and guides about the places I have visited. I do all of my own illustrations for my posts which makes me a little different from the usual travel blogger. My blog has more of a quirky, cartoon feel and I want people to have fun when they visit my site.

Q: What advice would you give to someone who is just beginning their blog? 

A: Above all I would say stay true to yourself. First, there are SO many blogs out there that are trying to be the next big, luxury-style travel blog. If you try too hard to imitate others, inevitably you will get lost in the noise. Second, eventually you will run out of steam if you are trying to be someone that you are not. 

Q: What’s the meaning behind your blog name?

A: My blog name is pretty self-explanatory, as I doodle my travels around the world. Still trying to pick a logo, though!

Q: What’s one thing that you want your subscribers to know?

A: I want my subscribers to know that I am authentic and care about my readers a lot. I am not into promoting products I am not passionate about, or writing about places I have never been. I would rather have a few, loyal followers than thousands of subscribers that I have gained through sketchy tactics etc. 

Q: Do you have any other social media sites?

A: I am currently active on Instagram and Pinterest @doodlemetravel. Follow me if you are into humor, cartoons, and travel stories!

Q:How long have you been blogging?

A:I have been actively blogging for about four months. Still a newbie!

Q: Have you ever had writer’s block?

A: Not yet! If anything, I have too many ideas and not enough patience to follow through on all of them.

Q: What do you like to do beside blogging?

A: Obviously I LOVE to travel. I also read a lot and paint in my free time. When I’m not being a total recluse, I am out with my friends at concerts and other fun stuff in Seattle.

Q: What’s your favorite thing to draw?

A: I love drawing people. Ever since I can remember, I have been cartooning and sketching people on whatever medium I can get my hands on. Everyone is just so unique and I love capturing their essence in a simple cartoon.

Q: Where was the favorite place you have traveled to?

A: So far Thailand has been my favorite place but I think I am biased because that was also my first solo trip. I love a challenge.

Q: If you could be on any TV show, what show would you choose?

A: Hmm that’s a difficult one, since I don’t watch much TV. I know this is a little dated but I would say The Office. I bet they have a lot of fun.

Again, if you like to travel, draw or both, I would recommend this blog! And thanks again Jessica for letting me interview you and help promote your blog.

<3 Amanda 

 

Snow Days As An Online College Student

(http://crazyeddiethemotie.blogspot.com/2014/01/fantasy-and-reality-of-snow-days-in.html)

I remember being a child and having my mom not wake me up in the morning for school because we had snow/ice day. I liked having snow/ice days because that meant that I got to sleep in. Now these days, since being out of school for a few years now, I have not have had any snow days obviously. When you're in college at a campus,you do get days off due to the snow or ice but not when you go to an online college as it's all online. That is one of the things that some online college students dislike but when it's bad outside but not too bad to call a snow day, on-campus students still need to go to class. Also, us online college students can pretty much be in leggings and a hoodie and still go to class and be warm. Rather then, being cold in a classroom.

Do you like snow/ice days? If you're a parent, do you hope for snow/ice days or no?

<3 Amanda

Dear 11 Years Old Self

I thought it would be interesting to write a letter to myself at age 11 (I just chose a random age). If you want to write a letter to your past self, you can choose any age that you want to. 

Dear 11 years old Amanda,

I hate to say this but be prepared for some hard times that lay ahead. You friends will gain against you in high school, but you form a new friendship with them after a few years and you all decided to leave the past in the past.  Your mom will be diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease the summer before your sophomore year and that will be a hard thing for you to get used to as she is unable to do a bunch of things that she used to be able to like drive, have legible handwriting and more. Then in your early 20's, your parents will get divorced which really you won't be surprised about as your older brothers and yourself expected it to happen in earlier years, 

Now, the topic of guys and relationships. I can only see so much into the future but your heart will get broken more than once, more than twice, etc. Your first boyfriend will try to make you go to the next step in the relationship and you declined which led to him breaking up with you over text and telling his family a whole different story about the reason why he broke things off. You soon found out after that he has a temper!  You will get engaged to a different boyfriend and the year (actually the month) that you were going to get married, he calls it off, saying his feelings "changed". You will d-find out soon after that he was talking to another girl behind your back.  There will three boyfriends after him,  Then you find a great boyfriend and you end up moving in with him due to personal circumstances at the time. After 4 months,he tells you that he accepted a new career and that you would basically have to go back home for a month due to seeing how everything up there went. After a few days after he won't respond to any communication, you find out that there was never a new job but there was a new girl that he has been seeing for more than just a few weeks. He pretty much ditched you and lied to you face. You were once again cheated on! That was hard for you to deal with. You wondered what was wrong with you that another guy decided to cheat on you. You then started to think positive and that there is a guy out there who is 150%  better than him and that he will treat you like a man should.  Currently, you are still single but you have a crush (actually a big crush) on a guy   that you have been talking to and hanged out with.Great news: he thinks you two are on a good start! Keep being you because he sure seem like he likes you for you.

You will decide to go to an online college and fulfill your dream of early childhood development. You will graduate with your associate's degree and even though it will take you an extra couple of months to complete, you'll go onto your bachelor's degree. Great job being on the Dean's and President's Lists. You will be a great example to all of the kids you help in your future career.

Love, Yourself

What would you tell your younger self?

<3 Amanda  

End of 2016 Survey

1) Was 2016 a good year?
It was okay, started out crappy, then got better, then got crappy again.

2) What did you accomplish in '16?
Good grades in college.

3) Would you ever change anything that you did?
You do everything for a reason but I'd definitely do things differently if I knew how they would end up.

4) Did you graduate?
Nope, that was in 2009


5) What was your favorite movie of the year?
I only seen one 2016 movie, although not in theaters, but it was Zootopia.

6) Any movies that you hated this year?
No!

7) Go to any Concerts this year?
Nope!


8) Did you get hooked on any new TV shows?
Nope! Watched This Is Us as I was told it was the new Parenthood but I didn't get into it.

9) Did a new show replace your old favorite?
Nope!

10) Did you buy any CDS in 2016?
Yes, Lucy Hale's .

11) Got a favorite from the year?
Lucy;s was the only one that I purchased I have to go with hers.


12) Were you on TV or the Radio?
Nope!


13) Did you see any plays/musicals?
Nope!


14) Read any good books?
No!


15) What was your favorite Christmas gift?
Hmm..Didn't really have one. My brush straighter (I don't remember the exact name of it).

16) Did you get married?
Nope!

17) Were you one of those crazy black Friday shoppers?
Nope,I like my sleep!

18) What did you get? 
n/a

19) Go trick-or-treating?
Nope, too old.


20) Win the lottery?
Won a few lottery tickets but not the main lottery.

21) Move out of state?
Nope!

22) Make new friends?
Yes!  :)

23) Get in trouble with the police?
Nope!

24) Stay up all night?
Who haven't/

25) Loose friends?
Unfortunately, but it wasn't my doing.

26) Learn something new?
Yes!

27) Spend a lot of money?
Ye!

28) Waste money?
Yes!

29) Spend a lot on Christmas Gifts?
Yes, and I shouldn't have due to some ungrateful people

30) Vote for President?
Nope; wouldn't have changed the results anyways.


31) How did you celebrate your birthday?
Home being bored.

32) Did you want to go somewhere but ended up not going there?
Yes!


33) Did anything Historic happen?
New President got elected..idk.


34) Did you help with any extra-curricular activity's at your High School?
Nope!

35) Pay over 4 dollars for a gallon of gasoline?
No!


36) Do a spare jobs around the neighborhood to make a little extra coin?
No!

37) How did you spend your new years?
At a friend's house and then home.

38) Did you enjoy the party?
It was fun.


39) What was your best three memories from 16?
1) Made the President's List again 2)Made some new friends 3)Started this blog!

40) Overall was 2016 a good year?
1-10, I would rate 2016 a 6 & a 1/2.


<3 Amanda

Will 2017 Be My Year?

(https://www.pinterest.com/Sphotog1/its-a-new-day-its-a-new-year/)

Hey guys sorry I took another leave from my blog after my last post. Last month and pretty much the end of November were just bad months for me. I had to deal with a lot those months. One main thing that I had to deal with was getting over the fact that I was cheated on in the beginning of December and learning that it has been going on for more than just the few weeks. That hurt a ton as I thought I was a good girlfriend and made him happy but apparently I wasn't a good girlfriend in his eyes and rather than just ending things, he decided to go the hurtful way. I personally could never cheat on someone because I think that's just really rude and wrong to do. If you're not in love with someone anybody, be truthful with them and break up that way.

Today is January 6th, and this is the start of a new year.  Yes, I got out of my last relationship the beginning of last month and I'll be honest, I do have a guy on my mind but we are just friends as of right now. But if something advances, I'm not going to stop it because I deserve to be happy. 

If you have any blog topics ideas that you would like me to post about, please leave me a comment below!

<3 Amanda