BLOGGING GOALS: LONG TERM & SHORT TERM.

Followers

In the short term, I'd really like to achieve 100 followers on Bloglovin'. I'm currently very close to achieving that, but up until recently the three-digit mark has felt like such a massive and almost unreachable hurdle, so I'd really love to achieve this by the end of October/start of November.

In the long term, I don't really have a specific follower count that I'd like. I'd prefer to just have a growing community of lovely readers that enjoy both my content and interacting with me on this blog.

Sponsorships

In the short term, I'd like to subscribe to the Sweetheart option on Passionfruit for $3 a month. I'm just dipping my feet into the world of advertising and sponsorships, so I'd just like to offer one paid ad spot in the near future.

A more long term plan would be to eventually convert to Passionfruit's Lover option. It's a bit more of a commitment at $9 a month, so I'd have to be confident that I'd be getting back the money that I put in in the first place! Nevertheless, this is definitely something I'd like to invest in when (or if?!) I have a larger following/influence as a blogger.

Other short term goals

Host my first giveaway.
Hold my first guest post.
Meet up with a fellow blogger in real life.

So, this post was a little different for me, but I just thought it would be interesting to share with you some of the goals and plans I have for this blog in the near future. I always like to know what other bloggers have in store concerning their blogs, so I thought, why not tell you all about mine as well?

TAG: 25 FACTS ABOUT ME.

I saw this tag on Yuen's blog back in August and I've been meaning to get round to answering the questions ever since. Now seemed as good a time as any - plus I thought it'd be a cool way for you guys to get to know me a little better - so here goes!

STREET PHOTOGRAPHY.

A few weeks ago, I joined the Photography Society at my university. I really wanted to get to know how to use my DSLR camera in different conditions and on different subjects, and this particular society just seemed perfect for developing these skills. The first theme we've been given is Street/Candid Photography, which involves taking photos of people out and about. The goal is to try and take the photos as inconspicuously as possible so as not to draw attention to the fact that you are taking someone's photograph. This way your subject remains unaware of you taking their photo, and you are then able to capture the real essence of that person. So here is a selection of my favourite images that I've taken. I also threw into the mix a few photos of objects I found on the streets as well.

ON MISSING HOME.

So, living away from home for the first time is a pretty strange feeling. Having spent the whole of the last month away from my own proper spring-filled bed and away from a pristine, pizza-box-and-alcohol-bottle-free kitchen, I actually don't feel quite as homesick anymore. I've got used to living without my brother and my parents, and providing for myself. I brought a couple of my favourite teddies, my guitar, as well as my extensive wardrobe and nail polish collection(!) so my new room definitely feels like a space that I feel comfortable and 'at home' in. The first few days, and weeks to be honest, were pretty scary and daunting and felt like they were going so slowly. Thoughts flew through my head like "How am I possibly going to be able to stay at university for the next three years?" "I feel completely out of my depth, I'm in totally new surroundings and there are so many new people around that all seem to be friends with each other already!" "I feel so lost." I decided to just give it time, and see how everything panned out. My course started after Freshers' Week and that gave me a terrifying but also really exciting thing to focus on. It's so important that I keep up-to-date with the work for my course, otherwise I will really start to fall behind. By really getting stuck into my studies, I discovered like-minded people on my course and over the past couple of weeks I've really started to form some great friendships with them. Making the effort to spend time with these people has definitely paid off, as we already have some great days and nights to look back on.

SEPTEMBER FAVOURITES: AMBER RUN.

Image Source

These guys are literally all I've been listening to this month. Amber Run are a five-piece band who go/went to the University of Nottingham (which is actually where my brother studies at, so I'm kinda a little bit jealous!). I'd describe the music that they play as indie or soft rock, similar to the likes of Kodaline and Bastille. Their music has a really chilled out vibe about it, with beautiful melodies and stunning lyrics. And the tone of the lead vocalist's voice is just sooo gorgeous.