Listicle How To Stay Sane And Productive Working From Home: Campaign Monitor Review 9:47 PM I work online. Social media management, content and copywriting are my main focus. As of this writing, I also have wedding plans to do and house duties which include taking care of our 17 dogs. All these resulted to me sacrificing my time blogging. I used to actively engage with subscribers and followers. Now I can barely post. Not complaining! My life has beautiful plot twists. But I know that I must put time and effort in maintaining my relationship with my faithful blog family as this is the main reason why I started to work from home. But how do I stay on top of things without going crazy? How to stay sane and productive working from home? Here's my Campaign Monitor review and other tips I'd like to share based from my experience. How to Stay Sane and Productive Working from Home 1. Keep your environment conducive to working. I used to work in the bedroom. Big mistake! Your bedroom is a place for resting, not for working. As much as possible (and please make it possible), do not work in your bedroom. Although you're working from home, keep "home" separate from work. You'll see your bed and that will give you the feeling of wanting to "lie down for just a minute" and be comfortable. That's procrastination waiting to happen. That will result to projects delayed and tasks half-done. If you want to stay productive while working from home, don't work in your bedroom. 2. Keep distractions away. What distracts you from focusing on your task? For me that's my phone. Sometimes the dogs asking for neck scratch too. Dog owners know the struggle. Put your phone away or turn to Airplane mode. There are also productivity apps you can download. For your dogs, establish a routine. Give them treats before you start working or after. Whatever works for your pooch. Don't let them in your working area if they get too hyper or needy. Personally, I find it helpful if I feed them first or play with them before working because by then they're full and tired and they would just want to sleep under the table or beside me. 3. Have a routine. I'm lucky have clients who let me work anytime I want as long as I finish the hours we agreed on. I choose to work as early as I can so I can work some extra or run personal errands and end the day early too. Establish a routine around your schedule like going to an office. Have breakfast, check emails, decide on which task to work on first, have a break and allow yourself to rest. Campaign Monitor Review 4. Schedule ahead of time. I'm thankful that there are apps and tools that allow me to schedule ahead of time. I can schedule social media posts and emails. Recently, I've come across Campaign Monitor. What I like about Campaign Monitor It is easy to use. Signing up is uncomplicated. If you're new to email campaign, there is a short tutorial video that shows you a quick overview of how to start and monitor your emails after sending. They have professional looking email designs ready to use and easy to customize. They have pricing plans to suit your budget. You know they have the best intention for your business and subscribers because before you can send a campaign, you will be required to verify your subscribers list. You just need to answer how you obtained your list and how often you email them. But that leads me to what I don't like about this tool... What I don't like about Campaign Monitor I have answered the questions so I can set up my email marketing but I didn't get a reply. It takes forever for their support team to respond. I've messaged many times about my concern but still hasn't received any feedback. Based on my experience, I'm giving Campaign Monitor 3.5 stars. 5. Step away. Take a few minutes to step away from your desk. When work is getting too much, when I encounter some good old writer's block, I find it helpful to take a few minutes away from my laptop. What do I do? Take a shower. My best ideas for some reason come to me while I'm in the shower. Amazing how many articles I've finished writing in my head while enjoying a cool bath. Snack. I don't just snack on any food because food affects the way you think and feel. So you also have to be mindful about what you're putting inside your body. Read a few pages on whatever book I have my hands on. Watch funny videos or vegan cooking videos. Play with the dogs. When you remove work-related thoughts in your head, you find yourself ready for more ideas to come in. 6. Take vacations. Vacation does not need to be grand. You don't have to book a flight to Bora Bora or Maldives. Mini-vacations could be great and helpful. How does being away from work help you achieve more at work? Your brain needs to reboot. Your body needs to rest. Your soul needs to recharge. A healthy, calm body, mind and a soul at peace make you productive. Vacations help you stay sane because stress from work can drive you crazy. How about you? How do you stay sane and productive working from home? What is the email campaign tool you use? Please share with me in the comment! Note: I have received compensation for this review but all opinions are my own.
Reviews Choosing My Online Wedding Invitation: Paperless Post Review 10:04 PM In case you missed it, I'm getting married soon! It seemed only yesterday when I was enjoying the ups and downs of the single life, wondering if I would ever find the one. It was a long journey, but God has plans far better than I imagined. Fast forward to today, I am stressed out and excited at the same time, planning a small and simple wedding, meeting suppliers, finalizing details, and choosing my online wedding invitation because it's more practical and better for the environment. Why I chose to go digital? Paper wedding invitations are expensive. All suppliers I've contacted both locally and abroad require a minimum of 50 copies. But, again, this is a small wedding. We don't need 50. People will either throw it away or keep it and forget about it afterward. It will only collect dust or add to people's clutter. We want to help the environment and save a tree. Paperless Post Review It was another part of God's beautiful plan that the wonderful people I've worked with before from Anagram Interactive introduced me to this excellent website creating online invitations. What are the chances?! Why I like it Paperless Post is easy to navigate, have expressive and various designs and layouts and even has designer collections (Kate Spade, anyone?). They have invitations for any holiday or event. If you have a finished design, you can upload it, customize and send it to your guests using the platform. You can import Gmail, Yahoo, or AOL mail contacts, create recipient lists, and invite guests. It's fun that I did not only see wedding invitations and RSVPs. They also have thank you cards, a Bridal shower, bachelorette party, and engagement party invitations. With RSVP, you can track who's opened your invitation, who's RSVP'd, and who needs a nudge. So they really have all the cards you need in an online version. Oh, just check their website and see for yourself. They also have friendly customer service so it will be easy for you. Here's the result of me playing around with their Our Big Day design by Crate & Barrel. You can customize the background. For example, I chose these pretty blossoms.Choosing My Online Wedding Invitation I changed the envelope color from yellow to rose gold and the stamp to a gray heart. The lining can also be customized, so I used one that's colorful and dainty. Enter your recipient's name: I enjoyed trying different styles and layouts; I have a few saved on my draft. Note: These are only samples for your reference. The holiday is fast approaching. I'm sure you'll find a card to send your loved ones this season and show your thoughtfulness and creativity even when you're far away---in an efficient and environment-friendly way. How about you? Which do you prefer? Online or paper invitation? Why? Note: I have received compensation for this review, but all opinions are my own.
Fashion & Style Cute And Customized Earrings From oNecklace 9:34 PM Personally, I don't use a lot of jewelries. Sometimes, I don't even accessorize. But if I would, my go-to piece of accessory is a pair of earrings. Simple and cute ones and not too flashy. What I've never have in all my 3 decades of wearing earrings though is a monogrammed pair. Now I am happy to share I have finally got my pair of cute and customized earrings from oNecklace. Cute and Customized Earrings from oNecklace Perfect gift I think customized jewelry is a thoughtful gift. Not only will the person receive a beautiful piece of accessory, they also get to have their names or initials on it. A personal touch! If customized jewelry is what you like to give to someone (or yourself!) this holiday, you need to visit oNecklace. Don't be misled by the name oNecklace. They have other kinds of jewelries you can choose from. They offer monogrammed or customized jewelries from my favorite earrings to necklace, rings and bracelets. They also have key chains and accessories specially made for kids. If you're getting married soon (like me), they have collections for bridesmaids too! A perfect gift for your girls. They also have birthstone collection if you like some bling. Cute and customized earrings Of course, I chose a pair of heart-shaped stud earrings with my initial. You can choose from silver, gold or rose gold plating. I picked rose gold. Why I like oNecklace I like that when you order from their page, it is organized so it's easy to choose. The description of the item you're buying is also stated clearly like the material and thickness. When you choose an item, you will be redirected to a page where they show the accessory in different kinds of materials that can be used so you can see the comparison in appearance. If you want to give your gift in a nice package, just tick the Add Gift Box & Bag option before adding to cart. You can see the estimated delivery date (just at the bottom of Add to Cart button) so you know when to expect it. Click the Shipping information (bottom left of the item's photo) and you'll see different shipping options and information. It is also a plus for me that the package arrived in a bubble wrap. It means they are taking precaution so you receive your parcel without damage. I like the simple and sturdy box it came with and the matching gift bag. You can keep your jewelry clean with the cleaning cloth included in the package. A Certificate of Authenticity is also included stating that all oNecklace precious metals are hallmarked, confirming that they meet the legal standard. I have no complaints on customer service either. Which made the transaction smooth and easy. For today's busy world, we don't want to complicate things. I am definitely one of those who prefer shopping online. Because it's just amazing how you can buy what you need without leaving your home and going through the hassle of traffic and long lines at the mall. I've been saying that here on my blog for years now. So, reliable online shops like oNecklace is a huge help. For those who are asking if oNecklace is legit, the answer is yes. Will I recommend oNecklace for jewelry shopping? Obviously, yes. I am eyeing their name necklace actually. If I would start wearing necklace now, I'd definitely start with that. Check out oNecklace for more fabulous items. I have received this item from oNecklace in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Lux Thinking Aloud An Appeal To My Fellow Bloggers 7:00 PM I started blogging because of my overwhelming thoughts and introverted personality. I've always had a love affair with the written words. It's very therapeutic and calming for me. Fast forward to this day, I never thought I'd be able to reach a wider audience, gain friends in the process and even earn from doing what I love. Such a dream if you'd ask me. And I'm letting you know this because I have an appeal to my fellow bloggers. An Appeal to My Fellow Bloggers While getting paid doing what you love is a bonus, it is not right to accept offers from cheapskates and frauds. I don't mean people starting on their business who can't afford to pay the standard advertising fee. I actually love helping budding entrepreneurs by working around their budgets. I am a dreamer. It feels good to be helping another dreamer. I'm talking about brands who ask you to write about their products and services for less than $10; asking you to add a lot of links and images, and even has the gall to tell you to give them a 5-star rating and review without receiving any product. How can you give a high rating or a good review to something you haven't seen or used? GIFSec I've had offers like this. They first ask you nicely to help give their brands a good image. "Can you please feature us in your blog? Write a review for us and include the (5 to 6) links below. $5 for one article. Also, please leave a good review on our website." "Can you please give us a 5-star rating on (insert reputable review sites' names here) and give us a good review? You don't have to write the review yourself. We will provide it for you. Just create an account with your email and we will send you the review. Just copy and paste. We will pay you a dollar for each review." A dollar. A dollar in exchange for a fake review. A dollar in exchange for a lie. A dollar and a girl searching for a prom dress or a mom searching for a house item for her family would believe that lie and buy purchase. Spending their hard-earned savings on an item I'm supposed to claim is "sooo good I highly recommend it" which in truth I haven't even seen. I myself as a consumer and someone who shops online checks reviews on Trust Pilot and other reputable websites before buying. I check out forums regarding the product I'm going to spend my hard-earned money on---regardless of the price. Why would I make a review about something I've never used? What would be my basis? Don't they get what the review site is for? A dollar in exchange for my word of honor. What are we, my fellow bloggers, if our words are nothing but false advertisements and paid lies? Words are what we've got. Words are our weapon, our bread and butter, our lifeline, our connection to the world. What happens if those very words are not our own anymore and they were made up by someone who wants to manipulate people for profit? What does that make us? And I was left wondering, what if someone grabbed it and agreed? When I finally got an offer to write something in exchange for money, I wouldn't lie to you I was excited beyond words. Imagine just doing what you love and someone offering you money for it. That's like the sweet spot between purpose and passion. I'm thankful that my first offer was reasonable enough for a first timer. And the offers after that. It is inevitable though to receive fishy offers along the way. Sometimes they pretend to be guest bloggers trying to get exposure. They will use a fake photo. I have a soft spot in my heart for bloggers. I'd love to help as many and as much as I can especially those who are still starting. So I would agree. Only to receive a draft that is full of promotion about their products or services. And if I point that out, they will keep on begging and bugging me in the emails. I ask nicely: "Please understand the business side of blogging. As much as I want to help you, this is promotional and it is clearly stated in my guest blogging terms that this is not allowed. I can give you a discount if you want. Gotta keep my page running. Thanks for understanding." And still get a reply saying "I understand but please can you just publish this?" Wut? Giphy If you understand, you will definitely not ask me to do it. I am being respectful and I do hope to get the same respect and understanding in return. As bloggers, we want our page to be appealing to our target audience. We want to give people a good experience when they visit our site. We spend hours planning, writing, proof-reading, searching for and editing images, and trying to perfect our posts. Somehow blogging transcends from being just a hobby to an extension of our lives. It is our online presence. It is who we are. Giphy For someone like me who has very little knowledge about the technicalities of building a blog, I hire someone to remove bugs, fix what's causing the delay in loading time, and change htmls to something better than what I've set up. I pay for my .com. I pay for my internet, electric bills and I bought my own laptop. I have to find a way to pay for my expenses. And I am so glad I get to do that from my blog---into which I'm spending these expenses on in the first place. An appeal to my fellow bloggers, spot the fraud and don't do business with them. It will be good if all bloggers unite and not work with cheapskates and manipulators. Don't give an awesome review of a product you haven't seen or used. Don't allow someone to shortchange you. Don't work with people who don't value and respect what you do. We are not just ranters or ramblers. We are not a waste of space or bandwidth. Bloggers are influencers. People actually read and consider our opinions. We are the media; we report, we share, we inform, we promote. Dare I say it, we touch and change lives. Fellow bloggers, I know you're smart. I know you're not mainly doing this for money. I know because your passion comes first. That's why I'm a blogger too. I appeal to you my fellow bloggers: Let us all say 'no' to frauds and fakes. Let us refuse and decline cheap offers especially those asking us to make false claims. We are better than that. Our words, the time and effort we spend writing them is worth more than just a dollar. What we do matters. For we are bloggers. If you like this blog post about life and love, please share the article using the social media buttons below or on the left. Thanks!
Fashion & Style Zaful Review: Style It With Zaful 8:00 AM Dressing up simply and comfortably is my favorite fashion style. To add a little fun, I accessorize. And I've found out that it's fun to style it with Zaful. Zaful is an online shopping site that offers a wide selection of trendy fashion style for women's clothing. They're not limited to that though. They go beyond. Check their website for more. (Click individual image to view in full size) Zaful Review: Style It With Zaful I have received during the holidays, a package from the friendly Zaful team. Straight outta package Christmas Snowflake Letter Print Hoodie The item: Love how solid the color is, love the design, and I love how soft the fabric is. Verdict: I wouldn't recommend wearing it on super cold weather though because it's just like a shirt. It cannot really be of big help to keep you warm. Maybe for gloomy weathers like what we have here as of this writing. Slimming Solid Color Pencil Capri Pants The item: A really good quality. It's comfortable to wear. The length is also just right. Verdict: This gorgeous white Capri pants is perfect for casual and semi-formal events. My only problem with this is that it seems see through, you can see the inside pocket. Cover Metal Solid Color Satchel The item: Sturdy material, elegant design, great quality for a bag that's less than $30. Verdict: Among all items I received in this package, this is my favorite. It looks modish and chic. I also have back problems so the style is perfect to balance the weight on my back. There's a thin blue film that protects the metal part of the bag to avoid scratches during shipping. Roman Numerals PU Leather Quartz Watch The item: A simple classic yet sophisticated design. Good quality as well. Mostly, my problem with wristwatches is that it's loose for my small wrist. But this adjusts to fit my wrist perfectly. Verdict: I chose this classic design and I didn't regret it. Classic never goes out of fashion. Plus, it's a perfect fit for me. 8PCS Rhinestone Jewelry Set The item: It is made of alloy as indicated in the description on their website (which I like because you don't expect too much when the package arrives). Charming design. One earring though looks as though it's a little bent. Verdict: You've got 4 rings and 4 pair of earrings to choose from. So for the price of $5.22, I think it's a steal. I like the floral one the most. What I like most about Zaful is that the items on their website are descriptive. You know what kind of material to expect for your order. They post the reviews of the customers so you get to decide if it's worth ordering it or not. The size chart is also available for your reference. The items are handled properly. The accessories were packed in a bubble wrap. The products are not perfect (as mentioned in the verdicts). The delivery took longer than I expected. So far that's the only problem I've got. But maybe the delay is because I'm in the Philippines and the shipping time may be different for your country. Overall, I still recommend this site for your next online shopping. With the great variety of options, your outfit won't be plain anymore if you style it with Zaful. Ready to go out for coffee Disclaimer: I have received these items from Zaful for an exchange of my honest review. All opinions are my own. Follow Zaful on Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates.
Fashion & Style Happiness Boutique: Happiness In A Small Box 8:00 AM We define our own happiness. Happiness can come from many things. Some from the most profound reasons, others from life's simple pleasures. My latest happiness came from Happiness Boutique. Happiness in a small box it is. A simple parcel that contains a fanciful pair of earrings and an elegant necklace. Life's more beautiful when you surround yourself with pretty things, don't you think? It's perfect timing because it's my friends' wedding. Oh, I'm so happy to finally see her get hitched. She and her fiance were my favorite neighbors when I was living alone. So, to the wedding I went and celebrated their milestone---with my Happiness Boutique jewerlies. It was a happy day. Happiness Boutique: Happiness In A Small Box The items Dainty Flower Earrings Material: zinc (nickel and lead free). Pastel Colors Statement Necklace Material: zinc (nickel and lead free), acrylic, rhinestones. The verdict Packaging: I love that they took extra care by wrapping the items in bubble wraps separately. The box was simple but nice. There was a card that contains instructions on how to care for the jewelry. It has a short note for me too. Design: I definitely love how the jewelries sparkle especially in the light. The design is very posh and versatile. You know it will not go out of style any time soon. I chose the product because I think it will be easy to find a dress or top that will match with it. And I was right. Superb quality for the price. Did I say I love it? The customer representative was also professional and helpful. So it's a breeze transacting with them. My dress was really simple, but I felt elegant. I was confident because I chose the right accessories---thanks to Happiness Boutique! I got to see good friends, I witnessed a marvelous cerebration of love, and I was more than satisfied with my look. Oh, happy day! We define our happiness. Happiness for me is surrounding myself with people who appreciates me for who I am, laughing my head off over silly jokes, and catching up with friends I don't always see. Happiness is a heart full of gratitude at the end of the day because you know that somehow, you've done something right in your life to deserve wonderful friends. Happiness is witnessing true love being celebrated. Happiness is a pair of dainty earrings and a pretty necklace to go with your dress. Yeah, happiness can be found everywhere if you know where to look. Disclaimer: I have received these products from Happiness Boutique free of charge in exchange of an honest review. All opinions are my own. 📸: Carlo Vicente If you like this blog post about life and love, please share the article using the social media buttons below or on the left. Thanks!
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