Last year I wrote about Blog Posts I Will Always Read, and it got a really great response! It's awesome seeing what other bloggers love reading and it gives me a better idea on what kind of content I should make more of. 

Just like my little blog, my taste and interest in different blog posts has evolved over the year and a half (ish) that I've been in this great community. Lately I've been trying to read more blogs and I've found some amazing new bloggers to follow. I've put together a list of topics that have been catching my eye lately and ones that I just adore reading!

Tattoo Showcases

If you know me, you know that I am tattoo obsessed! Everything about them interests me, and I love it when bloggers share pictures and their experiences of getting them. Some of them are complete works of art and deserve to be admired. I definitely want to put up a post soon sharing the tattoos that I have and advice on getting your first one.

Fitness Journey

There is nothing more inspirational that reading about someone who is turning their life around. Whether they are just starting on a path to fitness or they have been on one for years, I love reading the passion that people have for improving themselves. It's something I can really relate to and it's awesome to send them some encouragement when they might need it. 

Favorite Cafes

This is a relatively new favorite type of post for me, but who doesn't love pictures of cute interiors, beautiful cakes, and the all important latte art? Even if I may never get the chance to visit some of these cafes, it's still a joy to read about someone's experience. It really makes me want to explore new cafes in my own city too!

Monthly Goals

These just give me the biggest hit of motivation and I freaking love it! The start of the month is such an awesome time to reflect on what you want to achieve. I can't ever resist reading through these posts when I see them pop up on my feed.

Disney Wishlist

I follow a few bloggers that do one of these posts a month and it's always magical! They're full of the cutest little collectables and usually a mug that I desperately need to add to my collection. 

Disney + Wishlist = Perfection! 

10 thoughts we all have when...

Those posts that make you wanna shout "Thank goodness I'm not the only one!" I recently read one about thoughts at the gym, and every single one was on point. It's great when you find posts that are completely honest and relatable. They can also be pretty hilarious to read! 

Positive thoughts 

You always want your readers to leave your blog feeling happy and that they gained something from reading it. Whether it's about what makes you happy, why you love something, or sharing a really uplifting experience, I'll read it! The internet needs this kind of positivity to be shared as often as possible.

So, those are some of my absolute favorite types of blog posts I have loved reading lately. The blogging world is only getting better and I can't wait to see what awesome ideas you guys have next!

What blog posts do you love to read most? 

Steph x.

Travel Blog Post Ideas

Hello Everybody!

It's the middle of the year (and the middle of winter for us in the Southern Hemisphere) which means that it's the perfect time for a holiday! Being a blog-addict, I really want to continue writing while I am  away traveling. It seems like the perfect time to create really cool content and share the best of your experience. So many photo opportunities (oh the Instagrams!) and hidden gems to share.

A while ago I started coming up with a list of ideas for blog posts while I was away on vacation. And seeing as I LOVE writing lists, I thought I would share what I came up with!

My Long-Haul Flight Essentials

What I Ate In A Day 

My Favorite Spots I found in ____

Shopping Hauls

Beach Bag Essentials 

What's In My Carry On Bag

Keeping Fit On Holiday

Travel Makeup Bag

Holiday Vibes: What I Wore

Tips For Eating Healthy On Holiday

Inside My Travel Journal 

Favorite Travel Hacks 

How I Continued Blogging On Vacation

Top highlights from your trip 

My Tips For Traveling On A Budget 

Trying ___ Candy! (Pictures & Review)

What I Love Most About Traveling 

 Photo Diary

My Holiday Through Instagram

My Top Tips For Visiting ____

What's In My Camera Bag

Daily Blog 

 Checking Off My Bucketlist 

Top 10 (Tips, Restaurants, Places to Shop/Visit etc)

 Why I Would/Wouldn't Go Back To ____

Your go-to Plane Outfit

Travel Blog Kit: My Essentials 

Tourist Spots Worth The Hype!

Let me know if there are any other topics you love to write about when you travel!

Steph x. 

June Goals 2016

Hurray, it's a new month!
Happy June everyone. We are officially half-way through the year now (don't worry, I'm freaking out too.) But that doesn't mean we can't make the rest of 2016 awesome and productive. Starting with June, I really want to step everything up and give 110% to my blog and other projects. I love setting goals and making a conscious effort to work towards them. Let's make the second half of 2016 even better than the first!

Better blog growth

You know that annoying time when you feel like your blog or Twitter numbers are stagnating? I think throughout May I haven't concentrated enough on growth, and as a result everything came to a bit of a standstill. It's time to get better at my social media management and see if I can grow my community. I've made some amazing blogging friends lately and would love to make some more. 

Daily blogging  

If you haven't seen over the past few days, I've been posting daily blogs! Just stuff about my everyday life: my workouts, my diet, and everything in between. I would love to keep this up throughout June and see how it goes. I'm enjoying it so far and it's certainly keeping me busy. Make sure you guys let me know what you think of them!

Finally get some money in savings

I have a really exciting trip planned for August-September that includes going to the likes of Disneyland and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter *internal screaming* And I'm obviously planning on hitting the gift shops hard. I really need to buckle down and concentrate on building up my savings account again. I'm also planning on getting a few more tattoos done when I get back. Best to start good saving habits now!

Create and stick to a daily routine 

I don't know about you guys, but I'm usually most productive when I am on a schedule. With starting to daily blog now, I really need to set a routine in stone that I can stick to. I always write down a to-do list the night before, but I think it's time I create a blogging schedule to help me be more productive.

Step it up at the gym

One lesson that I have taken away from my workouts in May, is that your body is capable of more than you think. I feel like I improved a lot more this month because I stepped away from my usual routine. Just trying to lift an extra 5kgs or fitting in an extra set of cardio exercises can really make a difference to how satisfied you feel with your workout. It's time I worked even harder and see what my body can achieve!

Be braver

I think this was one of my New Year 2016 goals and it's something I've been taking baby steps with. Just stuff like making conversation (helping with my social anxiety) and even wearing a crop top to the gym. I remembered that quote that goes "Fortune favors the bold" and I think it's absolutely true. Through June and the rest of the year, I am going to make a habit of being brave. Sometimes just for the fun of it, or because I need to. The braver the better.


Let's tackle the rest of 2016 like it's our best year yet!

What are your goals for June? 

Steph x.

How to Blog On A Budget

Oh, how I do love blogging! But it does come with a price-tag from time to time. Towards the end of last year, I went from full-time work back to part-time work, which halved my income. Don't get me wrong, there's no way I regret my decision, it just made blogging a little trickier.

However, I quickly realized that you don't need all the beauty products in the world, or a closet full of clothes to be a great blogger. The great thing about running a lifestyle blog is that you can write about anything and everything in your life! Sure, if I treat myself online or buy a new lipstick I will want to share it with you guys. But I let go of that voice in my head that was saying "You need that latest Urban Decay palette, or people won't think you're a good blogger!" oh please. These things are nice and exciting to have, but I will get to that stage in my career eventually.

Here are my tips for blogging on a budget:

People love personal posts! 
These are always my favorite posts to read, if I'm honest and they barely cost a thing. Tell us what's going on in your life. Any challenges you faced lately? Got some goals you're aiming for? Tell us about it. I love reading about what people have been up to. I think we are all a bit nosy like that! Take inspiration from around you and turn it into a post.

What if I want a new template?
If the free themes aren't doing it for you, there's tonnes of great ones available on Etsy for an affordable price. I know I wasn't happy with my blog until it looked how I wanted it, and you don't have to pay $100 for a custom job. Search around for a theme that you love and it will make you excited to blog again. Believe me, it's the best investment you can make for your blog!

Get your camera out
It doesn't matter whether you have a digital SLR or just your IPhone camera, use it to document your day or an event. Put your latest Instagram pictures together in a post and show us your skills! Or do a photo challenge and show us the results. Some of my favorite posts to put together are made up of just photos. It's really helped me improve my photography/editing skills in the process too.

Stick to drugstore makeup
As much as I wish I could show you my favorite MAC products, I have honestly never been able to afford to buy any. Considering there are so many great dupes and other brands like Rimmel, I don't feel like I'm missing out either. It's not a smart idea to blow your budget by trying to impress your readers with various makeup items. Plus, drugstore brands are relatable to everyone. I don't know how many times I've been put off a blog post because all of the makeup was from the likes of NARS and Bobbi-Brown. They're great and all, but not everyone has that kind of budget. 

List it up!
Anyone else have a thing for list-making? It's honestly one of my favorite things to do. I love reading these kinds of blog posts too. Write down happy things, ideas, things you're looking forward to, or even your to-do list!


Work on beauty posts gradually
I've always wanted to write a post on a brand focus or even a makeup collection revamp, but it can be a very costly trip to the mall! Instead of spending all of my money in one trip to the beauty department (although it is tempting...) I will only buy one or two products each week and eventually build up a collection to blog about. That way I can still blog about what I want, and I'm still left with money for petrol. 

Take advantage of sales
Any time you see a beauty post or haul on Hello, Steph, you can assume that there was a sale of some kind. Since my money is limited I have to be smart with it and make it go as far as I can. Don't get me wrong, I do splurge every now and again, but I just can't resist a bargain. Sales are my weakness, OK?

Hopefully that was helpful to anyone else blogging on a budget! 

Let me know what you think in the comments

Steph x

New Year Blog Refresh

Hello Everyone!

So, a while back I found myself in a cafe before work, drinking coffee by myself and I started brainstorming how I could update my blog for the New Year. It actually got me really inspired to work harder than ever and to try new ways of blogging. It's taken me a little while to get my blogging feet, but I'm feeling confident and I'm still loving it. I've been working on Hello, Steph for about six months now and I think it's time for my baby to level up! 

Here's what you have to look forward to in 2016:

New Design

I've been wanting to do this for a while, but I wanted to wait until New Years to do it. One thing I always do when I'm browsing blogs is pay attention to their design and layout to see what I like and what works. And there are some great ones out there! I wanted a clean and fresh look for Hello, Steph; what do you think? It's from a great Etsy shop. 

More Posts Per Week

One thing that doing blogmas has taught me is that I can work harder to get out all of the posts I want to publish. While also keeping the quality that I want too. This will all depend on how busy I am, but you can look forward to four posts every week from now on! You will get a cheeky bonus post every so often too.

Themed Weeks

I'm really looking forward to doing this in 2016. About once a month I will be uploading posts everyday for a week all based around a particular theme: Happiness, Fitness, Self-love, Books, Beauty, and more!

Better Photo Design

Now, I think my photography has definitely improved since I started all those months ago! This year I want to spend more time perfecting my flat lays and having a bit more fun and imagination with my blog pictures. It's honestly one of my favorite parts of blogging and I would never want anyone to do it for me. Not to mention I've been having a lot of fun on Instagram lately too.

New Topic Section: Health and Fitness

This is something that is a big part of my life and I would love to share my fitness progress, tips, and even my food diary with everyone. For a while I wasn't sure how it would fit with my other posts, but seeing as I'm a lifestyle blogger, it's just another reflection of me! Let me know if there's anything you want to see. 

I'm really excited for this coming year and I have a feeling it's going to be a good one!

Are you updating your blog for 2016? Let me know how!

Steph x.

My 2016 Blogging Goals

Hello Everyone!

If you read my previous 2015 post, you'll know that this was quite the turn-around year for me. I was pretty lost at the end of 2014 with what I wanted to do with my life (quarter life crisis suck!) but thankfully I have now found my feet and I'm definitely on a the right path. I can't explain how much I have loved blogging this year and what it means to me now. So with 2015 being an awkward self-discovery year, that means 2016 will be my time to really kick things up and see what I can do.

In 2016, I will...

Step up my photography game
I've always loved taking photos and one of the best parts of blogging is being creative with how I can visualize my post. I'm also a massive lover of Instagram and have been having a lot more fun uploading this December. I want to get even better and keep putting out content that I'm proud of.

How will I achieve this: Stay inspired by others and experiment with new ways to take photos. Also, make more of an effort to upload onto Instagram more.

Launch my brand/designs

This is something that has been a work-in-progress for a while now and it's something I'm really passionate about doing. One important thing I learned about myself in 2015 was that I need to be my own boss. I simply can't live my life on another person's terms. No, thank you! I've always been a creative person, so owning a small creative business is my dream. It's a good thing I come from a family of entrepreneurs!

How will I achieve this: Keep working on designs and stay inspired. Get the hang of InDesign and launch my designs when I feel proud and ready. 

Make blogging friends

This is a big one for me. Because A) I don't make friends easily, and B) Bloggers are some of the best people and I would love to have some buddies! I see a core group on Twitter all the time and would love to be a part of that. Thanks to #GirlGang hopefully that will change!

How will I achieve this: Be more interactive on Social Media and participate in blogger chats every week. Make the effort to talk to people, Steph! 

Let my little blog grow!

In 2016, I would love to have 500 followers. This still seems like a gigantic number to me, but you gotta aim high right? As much as numbers don't mean a lot if you are proud of your content, it would just be awesome to interact with more people and to get more feedback. It would be amazing to be able to start working with brands too.

How will I achieve this: Continue to work hard on my blog, be smart about self-promotion, and be more interactive on other blogs. Most importantly, continue to write about what I want to write about, not what I think I should.

Vlogging?

 I watch and admire a lot of YouTubers and there's a part of me that really wants to give this a go. It would be fun to be able to watch days back when I'm older too. I may not upload my vlogs for a while, but I can have a bit of fun in the meantime while I get on my feet.

How will I achieve this: I will start filming the odd day and practice editing. I want to spend the year getting my confidence up too.

Teach myself HTML 

I feel like this is a great advantage to any blogger. I've seen quite a few designs or blog layouts, and say to myself "I wish I could do that!" Well, I do love a good challenge and this would be great to learn.

How will I achieve this: Use the internet as your teacher! There are plenty of basic tutorials available for beginners that are completely free. Just practice and have a bit of fun with it. 

Be braver. 

As much as I'm getting better at this, being bold doesn't always come naturally to me. I mean, I will rock a red lipstick anywhere, but being bold socially and trying new things can be hard. I will overcome these fears in 2016 and see where it takes me!

How will I achieve this: I will say yes to doing more things, or make more adventures happen myself. I will also ignore that part of my brain that likes to comment "What will people think?" and just be bold about talking to people.

Every single one of these goals are completely achievable, and mostly by just taking small steps everyday. I always see people working on these awesome projects, so 2016 is going to be my year to join them! 

What's your biggest goal for 2016? 

Steph x.

Blog Posts I Will Always Read

One of the reasons why I got into blogging myself was because I loved finding new blogs to read and follow. I also spend way too much of my morning going through twitter and seeing what posts have been put up. There are quite a few titles that will catch my eye and I can't help but click on the link and have a gander. From one blogger to another, here are my favorite type of posts that I always stop to read:

Favorites/Things I'm loving

Whether it's monthly, weekly or just a general update, I love reading about what products have worked for others and why they loved them. Plus, the writing is always fun since they're excited to share the stuff they love!

Life Updates

I once read a post by a blogger who quit her job and had decided to start her own business. The next week I spent ages trying to find her blog again so I could get an update! It doesn't even have to be about anything big, it's just nice when people share what's going on in their lives. 

What's in my make-up bag

Because we are all nosy and like seeing what other people use, right? These are also some of my favorite YouTube videos as well. It's the best topic for getting new ideas for what beauty products to try, since it's pretty much the best of someone's current make-up collection.

Day in the life/Morning Routine 

Again, I'm nosy. I love seeing what other bloggers do with their time. Maybe I'm doing something wrong and I can learn a better use of my day from them. Inspiration can come from anywhere!

Blog Post Ideas

It always gets to a part of the month where I have to start a new list of ideas for the next month. These posts are especially useful if the month is themed as well, like Autumn, Spring, Christmas etc. Writer's block is the worst.

 Books

Anything book-related will no doubt get my attention! Hauls, favorites, to-be-read, a monthly round-up, or even a book shelf tour will make me a happy bookworm!

Products Worth the Hype 

I never usually spend the money on a product unless I have heard good things about it. Posts like these are so much help for someone like me who can be a bit indecisive. 

Music Playlists

I've always been useless when it comes to finding new music so these playlists are so helpful for me. I've even found a few people with the same taste as me!

I hope that was helpful to any bloggers out there.
What kind of blog posts do you guys like to read?

List your top 3 in the comments!

'Til next time x.

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