#BLOGMAS: Christmas Countdown Styling Challenge

Hi everybody, and happy December 1st! As I'm sure my long time readers remember from last year, I am quite the Christmas nut and absolutely love the holidays/holiday season. This being said, since I already have my holiday giveaway covered (you can get the deets and enter it HERE.) I figured I'd do something a little different this year and start a holiday styling challenge just for fun! 

What I'm doing for this challenge is every day on my Instagram, I will be posting the holiday themed looks you'll see in the Calendar below, as well as adding them to my Look Book tab on here.

So though this is more of a personal challenge, anyone who wants to join in on the fun I urge to do so! I'd love to see what creative stuff my fellow bloggers and fashionistas (and of course fashionistos, too) can come up with.

So if you decide to partake in my Christmas Countdown Styling Challenge, there are no rules or winners, and you can participate as little or as much as you would like, I'd just like to ask anyone who does participate to please the hashtag #starkravingchicholiday2016 on Instagram, because that way we can all see what everybody comes up with! Can't wait to see everyone's styles! Later babes.

Xx, Bree

Holiday Travel Essentials + Tips To Stay Organized

When it comes to blogging, you absolutely love it. You get to work with you favorite brands, make new friends, and write about things you are passionate about. Though sometimes it's hard to stay on track and procrastination sets in and then at 11:59PM you are in full blown panic mode, drinking way to many Americanos, while trying to meet your 9AM post deadline for the following morning. Sound familiar? 

As I'm sure my readers have noticed in the past couple months I've been doing a lot of traveling back and forth from Florida, and as you can imagine during my travels I've been in the situation above quite a few times. This being said, I'm sure many of you are wondering how I've managed to stay organized and remain on top of my post deadlines while travelling, especially now that the holiday season is upon us. (Admittedly most of these things I've learned through trial and error, paired with more than a few glasses of wine with John.) And that's why I decided to make this post to share my essentials and some tips!

Travel Essentials

If you follow me on Twitter you probably saw my tweet featuring my Travel Essentials list on Influenster, but in case you don't here's what you missed and why these items should be in every bloggers carry on:

A Large Tote to Keep Your Necessities In:

Though any large tote would do, I specifically have this Coach Nomad bag in burgundy. The reason why I say a large tote is a necessity is simply because though ones this size are more comparable to a carry on bag, they still obviously count as your "personal item". Not to mention this way you can pack everything you need for a flight in one place such as a book, small laptop or iPad, passport booklet (if needed) and of course little necessities like a brush, lip balm, and maybe a small camera. Also, I don't know about you, but when I'm travelling I always try and pack light with as little bags as possible simply because I don't like to wait around at baggage claim. 

iPad Pro 12.9 + Apple Smart Keyboard/Portfolio Case

Okay, so maybe you don't absolutely need an iPad and keyboard, but I for one do simply because it all goes back to me wanting to pack light and it's hard to do that when you're laptop has a 17" screen. So as an early gift this year my mum gave me my trusty new iPad and it has really helped with keeping me on track with my blogging even while traveling. How so? Well it has helped me stay organized due to the nifty calendar app I have on it, as well as giving me the capability to make an agenda. And of course let's not forget to mention how less cumbersome it is on the go that a laptop.

A Note Pad (In my opinion the cuter the better!)

Even though I am very good about keeping my agenda and calendar organized on my phone or iPad, I'm not so great at making notes or reminder on them. This being said I much prefer to keep a small note pad to got things down and make physical lists.

Pens, lots of pens 

Firstly, obviously if you have a note pad to jot things down, chances are you probably need a pen. And if you're like me, you are probably constantly losing, I mean misplacing, your pens so it's probably a good idea to have a few of them handy. (And if you're like me and own one fancy pen, never put that thing in your purse!)

A Good Pair of Headphones

Simple explanation: Crying infants on airplanes.

Business Cards + Case

Lastly, even when I am just travelling for pleasure and it's not business related, I always keep a couple business cards on me. You just never know who you might run into and want to collaborate with!

Tips To Stay Organized 

I will be the first to admit that I am not an overly organized person. Though I generally always have a plan, and know everything will get done, I have a tendency to get overwhelmed and slowly shut down from blogging mode. However, while I've been travelling I have also been researching ways to help keep myself organized and panic free! Here are the things I have been doing that have been a tremendous help:

1. Get rid of the default "Calendar" App and start using "Calendars" by Readdle

Yes, the dreaded "Calendar" app by Apple is atrocious and in my opinion very difficult to keep organized if you have a crazy busy schedule. This being said that's ow I stumbled upon Calendars by Readdle. This app is great because it allows you to color code and label events, and it has a wide selection of colors, which was good news to me because it has really helped me stay organized.

2. If your platform that you blog on has an app, DOWNLOAD IT NOW! (If you haven't already)

Obviously, this is one of the best ways to update posts, check analytics, and answer comments on the go. And to top it off most of the apps for blogging platforms are free so it's almost silly not to have them downloaded.

3. Make sure your blog email is set as your "main" email account on your phone

I don't know if most people are like me but I have a ridiculous amount of email addresses: My blog/business email, my work email for DSG, my school email, an email specifically for flights, and lastly my "junk" email. This being said, it is much easier for me to have my business email as my main considering that is my highest priority. (Though it is kind of frowned upon, I refuse to check DSG emails after office hours or if I am clocked out for lunch or off sick.)

4. Set personal post dates (AKA non-sponsored posts) well in advance

This is so important for me. I am a major planner, I always try and have posts booked and ready to go at least two weeks  in advance. Seriously, my last #OOTD for StyleWe was booked and written on November 6th! And currently I am already booked through early-mid December.

5. Keep a written to-do list and notes

I don't know about you, but for me jotting things down actually helps me remember them. Perhaps it's just habit from when I was little and my mum would have me write my spelling words 3 times each as practice. However, this being said, I find keeping a written list very helpful to stay organized.

And lastly, though this isn't a tip to be organized in the crazy blogging world we live in, always remember to set aside a couple hours a day for yourself. Shut off your phone (yes really), take a walk, read a book, have a glass of wine! Just anything to pull you away from your computer for a few to really enjoy yourself. Believe it or not, even when you're overwhelmingly busy, it'll make you feel 10 times better.

What are some ways that you stay on schedule for the holidays and while travelling? Let's chat about it in the comments below!

Xx, Bree

BLOGIVERSARY + GIVEAWAY!

It's been a crazy ride folks, but I am happy to announce that today my blog is one year old! I really can't believe how fast time has flown by and how grateful I am for the amount of success I have had this past year. I mean it's amazing for me to think that at this time last year I launched my first ever post that was just a simple review on different types of lip balm.

And now, thousands of followers on Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin', 1,800+ subscribers, loads of collaborations, 84 posts, 5 sponsors (post on the newest coming soon!), 2 contributing writer positions, and 1 new dog later, I'm here at my year anniversary of writing and doing what I love. It's truly amazing what can happen in a year.

This being said I hope my readers know that I attribute most--who and I kidding, all-- of this success to all of you! Because simply without you my blog would not be what it is today. I just want to thank you all and let you know how much I appreciate all of your support, seasoned readers and newbies alike! So, I thought what better way show my appreciation than to host a giveaway to celebrate!? So I'll just cut to the chase and gush more about you babes later.

BLOGIVERSARY GIVEAWAY

For my first blogiversary giveaway, I've decided to once again partner with my first ever sponsor, Bijoux USA, and again giveaway some absolutely fabulous jewelry pieces. Normally I would do a mix and match of bracelets and necklaces however this time I decided to be bolder,  and went for five statement necklace and earring sets. And as always, there is a grand prize, and for this prize I have also used my sponsor SheIn and am giving away a gorgeous white twist lock shoulder bag. Also as usual, the grand winner will receive the lovely bag along with all five gorgeous jewelry sets! Lets take a look at the prizes shall we?

BAR TUBE MESH CHAIN STRANDS NECKLACE SET

OCTAGON CRYSTAL ACCENT CHUNKY CHAIN MULTI STRAND NECKLACE SET

OVAL RESIN BUBBLE CLUSTER CHUNKY STATEMENT NECKLACE SET

RECTANGULAR NATURAL STONE PENDANT DROP LAYERED NECKLACE SET

ROUND CRYSTAL FRINGED DROP CLUSTER CHUNKY STATEMENT NECKLACES SET

White Twist Lock Shoulder Bag + All 5 Jewelry Pieces

*Note: Chain strap is included. See a bag I own that's similar to this one here.
 

Rules:

The entry rules are exactly the same as my last Bijoux USA giveaway and are as follows:

1. The first step of entry is commenting on my post with what item you would like to try and win along with your email so I can reach you if you win to discuss shipping matters and such. However, if you are uncomfortable posting your email here, you can email me directly at starkravingchic@gmail.com with the same requests.
2. Please only ONE email/comment per entry, this means you are allowed to try and win multiple items in the giveaway, but please only one email per item/contestant. (EX: if you want to try for more than one prize, you would list them in one comment.) Unfortunately if you do not follow this request, you will be disqualified.

How will the winners be chosen?

The drawings will be at random, basically I'll just be pulling names/email addresses out of a hat for each given category, this means there will be 6 separate drawings for each item listed to win, to guarantee the authenticity of the contest.  And of course as I stated above, once my winners are picked I will notify you via email to get your address for shipping purposes.

Dates The Contest Will Be Running:

So the contest starts today with this post (AKA Sunday, March 20, 2016)! And you will have two weeks to enter (meaning the end date will be Sunday, April 3, 2016) and the winners will be announced that following Monday, April 4, 2016 bright and early at 9AM US Eastern Time.

Just so you have it straight:

• Start Date: Sunday March 20, 2016
• End Date: Sunday April 3, 2016
• Announcement of Winners Date: Monday April 4, 2016

One Last Important Note:

Just so everyone is on the same page, I want all of my readers to know that I will be shipping all of the prizes, including the grand prize, internationally! So all of my readers around the globe can have a chance to win!

And lastly again, I can't begin to even describe how much I appreciate all of my readers and I truly could not do all of this without you all! You really give me the drive and positive vibes I need to keep going and for that I am forever grateful for your out pour of support!

Good luck dolls!!

Xx, Bree
 

P.S. Also remember, my U.S. readers can all be winners thanks my latest sponsor Rocksbox! Just type in the promo code "starkravingchicxoxo" for a month of FREE, unlimited, designer jewelry! To learn more about Rocksbox and how it works, check out my post about them here!