12 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Blogging

Let's virtually travel back in time and reminisce the golden olden days for a moment. Three years ago Zoey Olivia was born. I've had countless blogs before this one, I was an avid Tumblrer, I had previous Blogspot accounts and a Live Journal account which I can't for the life of me remember what my name was on there (oh boy... that's really going back, does anyone actually remember Live Journal?). I even had a Piczo account (If anyone remember's Piczo, yay!) Back then, no-body had even heard of what a flat-lay was, didn't think twice about tags and didn't carefully plan a monthly blog schedule.
In the olden days, blogging was used as a platform where you spilled things over to the digital world as if you were writing a diary entry, you wrote about your latest beauty purchase, what you're currently loving, your latest outfit splurges, or you'd write something super juicy and spill the beans on that boy who broke your heart. Not much thought went into it.
Oh how times have changed! Sometimes I reminisce about the old days and how everything was a lot simpler and a bit more raw. Although saying that, I do love that blogs have evolved and become more visually pleasing whilst still writing relatable content.

My blog has always been a hobby, I have a full-time job working as a Digital Designer and I create posts during evenings and at weekends. Blogging takes a lot of hard work, time and determination, you are your own photographer, editor, content creator, marketeer and social media manager. A girl boss. I think it's incredible that so many amazing content creators have made a living out of their hobby.

Over the past few months I have been taking my blog a little more seriously and making a few tweaks here and there to improve my content, do a bit more digital marketing and make my blog more user friendly with an awesome new design. So without further a do, here are twelve blogging tips that I wish I knew when I first started out and will help you too.

1. Choose a user-friendly blogging platform. When I started Zoey Olivia, I used Blogger.com (Formally known as Blogspot). More recently I changed to WordPress after a friend recommended it.


2. Make blogging buddies! Follow other bloggers on the blogging platform you choose as well as on other social media platforms. My personal favourite place to find cool new bloggers is on Bloglovin.


3. A way of getting your blog recognised is to comment on other people's blog posts and not in a spammy way (everyone hates a bit of spam). This way you get conversations going and other readers will visit your blog to see and read what you’re about.


4. Create kick ass flat lays and up your photography game. I honestly wish I did this sooner as my following has shot up in the past month or so.
   I love photography anyway, so spending a bit more time carefully creating the perfect backdrop and learning how to use my camera settings properly has been really beneficial.


5. To engage more people through Bloglovin' or Pinterest, create visually pleasing bright photo's that are vertical and stick to it.


6. Plan. Write down what days and topics you want to discuss each month. Have some form of a routine which your readers will get accustomed to. It can be writing twice or five times a week, whatever you decide do it religiously.


7. Write catchy titles. This is a bit of a new one for me, however it has been a game changer. You want to keep your readers coming back for more, writing eye-catching titles like 'The most Instagrammable places in London', 'The MAC Lipstick everyone is buying', or '10 Things to do on a Sunday' will help to increase blog traffic.


8. Use tags on your blogs! Nine times out of ten your readers have been searching for a specific tag which lead them to your blog. They may have searched generic titles like 'Beauty', 'Food'. 'Lifestyle' or they may searched for something a little more specific like 'Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lipstick Swatch and Review'. Just make sure your tags are relevant to your post.


9. Don’t play the 'follow, unfollow' tactic to gain more followers. I've seen a lot of bloggers do this on Instagram, Bloglovin and Youtube and it honestly grinds my gears. You loose your credibility as a blogger, it shows your true motives and its anything but authentic. Let your blog grow organically and follow people you're genuinely interested in.


10. Schedule your posts for first thing in the morning, at lunch-time or after work when the commuters need something to read. These are the times when your blog will get the most traffic. I usually schedule mine around 7-8am.


11. Self promotion. Utilise your social media platforms when a blog post goes live (this is definitely something I need to do more of). Schedule tweets and 'grams on Hootsuite or Mosaico. Also, sign up to Bloglovin, your content will go up automatically when you post.
    Pinterest is another great platform for self promotion, although I haven't quite got the hang of mastering it yet.


12. If you want to step your blog up a notch, buy a beautiful blog design. There are tons of pre-made blogger templates to spice up your blog. I use a pipdig template and I bloody love it. Previously I have used Envye.

Let's get social. Follow me on Instagram: @zoeyoliviablog to see what I get up to daily. You can also reach me on twitter: @zoeyoliviablog. Or, if you like Bloglovin', I'm kind of new to it but follow me on there. 

My Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick Collection

It's no secret that I'm Charlotte Tilbury obsessed. In my eyes her lipsticks are some of the best on the market today and I've been slowly adding more and more in to my collection.

First off let me start by saying they aren't cheap. Twenty four pounds a pop, but they are so worth it. Secondly the packaging is out of this world, art-deco rose gold beautifulness (yes, I know that is a word). I wear every single shade on the regular, so without further a do here's my Charlotte Tilbury lipstick collection.

Bitch Perfect. My ultimate holy grail nude lipstick. If you're a regular reader you're probably sick to death of me raving about this shade, so apologies.

It's a gorgeous lightly muted coral shade with a tinge of pink. A lovely light luminous satin finish which glides onto your lips beautifully and feels super creamy and moisturising too.
Read my full review here.

Pillow Talk. This is one of my most recent Charlotte Tilbury purchases, I caved into buying it after falling head over heels for the infamous Pillow Talk liner, best lip liner ever. It's a gorgeous nude matte brown tone that's very natural and perfect for every day. Read my full review here.

Between The Sheets (Limited Edition). A matte formula in a dreamy vintage rose petal shade. It's the your lips but better shade! Sadly this one is limited edition, however, Kidman's Kiss is very similar. Read my full review here.

Stoned Rose. A gorgeous brown-rose shade, perfect for the autumnal season coming up!

I almost wore this on my wedding day but I ended up opting for Chanel's 402 Adrienne instead, it was a super close call though. Read my full review here.

Kiss Chase (Limited Edition). I adore this lip colour, it's the most gorgeous tawny berry hue which is curated to suit any skin-tone. Another one that's great for the colder seasons. Read my full review here.

Red Carpet Red. This lippy is a gorgeous deep red which actually reminds me of a 1950's film star shade, something Marilyn Monroe would wear. The formula is incredibly smooth and lovely to apply. And, for a matte, it's not drying at all. Full review here.

(Swatches from left to right: Red Carpet Red, Kiss Chase, Stoned Rose, Pillow Talk, Between The Sheets and Bitch Perfect)

So there you have it, my Charlotte Tilbury lipstick collection. I’m really tempted to buy another sometime soon. I've had my eye on Secret Salma, Amazing Grace and Love Liberty - all beautiful autumnal shades, so maybe one of those will be my next pay day treat.

Do you have any favourite products from Charlotte Tilbury? If you do, let me know in the comments below!

Let's get social. Follow me on Instagram: @zoeyoliviablog to see what I get up to daily. You can also reach me on twitter: @zoeyoliviablog. Or, if you like Bloglovin', I'm kind of new to it but follow me on there.

A Gentle Routine to Pick You Up When You're Battling Endometriosis

I haven't spoken much about my endometriosis battles, however, as I type this I'm currently lying down in a hospital bed and feeling pretty crappy after having my second laparoscopy operation. I've been stuck here for three days with two drains attached on each side, looking like a corpse, unable to walk properly and in endless amounts of pain.
I'm just itching to go back home and get a good night's sleep.

By the time this goes up, I'll be on the mend and I'm certain I'll be in much brighter spirits.

I haven't seen many people discuss endometriosis on blogs, however there has been an increased awareness of the condition since Lena Dunham and singer Halsey spoke up about it this year. I am so glad to see endometriosis in the spotlight and I hope this allows more women to find the care and treatment they need to manage their symptoms, as well as a general wider understanding to those who haven't heard of the condition before.

For me, it's still a raw and sensitive subject to discuss as there are a lot of unanswered questions about infertility, dealing with the years of deliberating pain, not being taken seriously and simply feeling like this is the norm. It's an emotional topic and it has been a blooming emotional rollercoaster over the past 8 or so years.

I'll give you a bit of a brief back story, it took me roughly five years to be diagnosed. After my first operation back in early 2015 the pain that had been haunting me was indeed endometriosis. I have stage four, which is classed as severe endometriosis as well as effecting the bowels too.

Endometriosis sadly runs in my family, my auntie was first diagnosed with it many many years ago and she is unable to have children because of it. I have been pre-warned that having stage four will cause complications for when I want to try and it may be unlikely that I can have children too. Jeez, that was super personal for me to share, I'm getting a little bit flustered ha.

Anyway, I've been thinking of little things to pick me up again for when I return home! Here are a few of my go-to's, a gentle routine that instantly makes me feel a lot better. If you're dealing with endo pain or the emotional straits, I hope this routine will help ease symptoms and make you feel better too.

Pots of tea.️ 
An instant mood booster is a lovely warming cup of tea. Camomile tea is great for soothing inflammation and makes you feel more calm. Peppermint and green tea are also amazing, they work wonders for soothing pains.

Enjoy a nice hot bubble bath.
There is nothing better than sliding into a hot, soothing bath to relieve the aches and pains of endometriosis. If I'm having a bad endo day, I like to treat myself to some Aromatherapy Associates oils, a favourite of mine is Inner Strength, or if I want something fun, I'll pop a Lush bath bomb in surrounded by candles in the dark. Honestly nothing beats this. 

If you're struggling to move from your bed or are recovering from a laparoscopy operation, a hot water bottle will be your best friend for awhile. You can still have a nice steaming hot shower and soak your skin in some fancy oils afterwards. Alternatively treat yourself to a lovely little foot bath!

Pamper yourself.
Treat yourself to a face-mask and go and paint your nails to brighten your mood!
Or why not splurge and treat yourself to a spa break get-away for the ultimate relaxation. I'm laying here dreaming of a spa right now, once I'm fully recovered from my operation I know where I'm heading.

Netflix and chill.
Getting lost in a good old tv series will take your mind of things. Suits is an easy watch and Harvey is always nice to perve over (Sorry Joe). I also recommended watching Homeland, The Originals, Stranger Things and House of Cards, I'm hooked on all four at the moment.

Let it out.
It's ok to be upset and have a little cry. Endometriosis is hard to deal with and it's ok if you want to stay in a foetal position and have a good old cry. Letting it all out is better than keeping your emotions locked in, trust me on this one.

Candles. 
There is something that feels so lovely and calming about lighting scented candles. A warming glow that will simply lift your mood when you're having a tough day. Diptyque's Baies is my go to that I know will instantly cheer me up. It feels like such a treat when I burn this.

Disconnect and read.
Whilst recovering, I have been reading Marie Kondo's the life changing magic of tidying again. But I'm dying to go home and escape in some fantasy stories. I'm thinking of re-reading the Harry Potter series.
Bloglovin' has also been a major distraction, I've been loving reading blogs and getting inspired for mine along the way.

Allow Yourself Time to heal. 
Give yourself time to heal and give yourself permission to be sick. 

We live in a hectic society and most of us don’t take enough time to settle down and rejuvenate our bodies and our spirits. When we get sick, we feel guilty if we need to stop running around, or if we have to say no or cancel obligations, but taking a break to heal is essential and you deserve this down time. 

Don't close yourself off. 

The worst thing you can do is shut yourself off and not talk to anyone about this.
I have the most incredible and supportive husband, the best family and friends and an amazing social media family who have been keeping me in brighter spirits and generally sane.
I've been trying to keep active on social media, mainly on Instagram with how I'm feeling and I feel that it has helped me cope with the situation instead of keeping everything locked away and hidden. If you're more of a private person, perhaps write your thoughts and feelings in a diary. 

Have a movie marathon. 

Snuggle up under a cosy blanket and stick on a few easy going films. What's better than watching the whole Harry Potter series or some Disney films to cheer you up. If you have Netflix, Cinderella and Jurassic World are good ones to watch! Or if you fancy a bit more action, The Avengers films are classics.

I hope my gentle routine help's to pick you up and lifts your spirits. If anyone else is struggling and wants to talk about endometriosis, please leave a comment below or private message me. Additionally if you want to hear more about how I deal with it daily or what my second laparoscopy was like, then I will do another post in the near future. Remember to try and stay positive, I know it's hard and easier said than done, but you're not alone and there is an amazing community out there. 

Zoey x

Follow me on Instagram: @zoeyoliviablog to see what I get up to daily. You can also reach me on twitter: @zoeyoliviablog. Or, if you like Bloglovin', I'm kind of new to it but follow me on there.

Our Cosy Winter Barn Wedding with a 1920s Twist Featured on Love My Dress

I've been keeping something secret for a little while and now I'm super excited to share that mine and Joe's magical 1920's inspired winter barn wedding has been featured on LoveMyDress. What an honour! Read the full article here.

This takes me back to my wedding planning days where I was relentlessly checking LoveMyDress for inspiration. I found it incredibly helpful to see how other brides had styled their big days.
I'm hoping this article helps any future brides-to-be who are planning a similar barn wedding or those who want a glamourous 1920's twist on the day. Either way, I hope you enjoy the read.

I also want to give a huge shout-out and thanks to our amazing wedding photographer Cat Lane who got in touch and made this feature possible.



You may also be interested in reading about my wedding experiences, I blogged about mine and Joe's initial ideas here. As well as my initial hair and make-up ideas. Additionally, I discussed The stressful period with eight weeks to go, choosing your wedding make-up here, and designing your own wedding stationary (travel theme inspired) here. More recently, I wrote about how I styled my wedding dress.

Follow me on Instagram: @zoeyoliviablog to see what I get up to daily. You can also reach me on twitter: @zoeyoliviablog. Or, if you like Bloglovin', I'm kind of new to it but follow me on there.

August Goals

We're into the second week of August so I feel like I'm cheating a little starting my goals a little late. However, I really adore the idea of setting little targets each month and better late than never right?
Mini goals not only give me something to work towards but they also help me feel happier, more productive and fulfilled.

August Goals

1. Only post engaging and exciting content (don't post for the sake of it!)
2. Be more consistent on Instagram
3. Blog design refresh
4. Begin thinking about autumnal content ideas
5. Create some helpful blogger content
6. Continue to write blog posts in advance
7. Be more active on Bloglovin
8. Up my game with cool interesting flat lays 
9. To loose four more pounds. Ok this may be a bit of a challenge for me as by the time this goes up I'll be recovering from an operation and not allowed to exercise for six weeks... but we shall see

What are your goals for this month?

Follow me on Instagram: @zoeyoliviablog to see what I get up to daily. You can also reach me on twitter: @zoeyoliviablog. Or, if you like Bloglovin', I'm kind of new to it but follow me on there.

A Summer Try-On Haul

It's been quite some time since I sat down and filmed a haul video. Truth be told I've been on a bit of a spending ban recently, however, I needed some new summery additions in my wardrobe. I got a few bits from New Look, PRIMARK, Topshop, H&M and Mango.

Although with the weather we're dealing with at the moment, it doesn't seem likely that I can whack out these gorgeous pieces anytime soon, so I shall save them for when the sun does decide to pop out and say hello.
   

Follow me on Instagram: @zoeyoliviablog to see what I get up to daily. You can also reach me on twitter: @zoeyoliviablog. Or, if you like Bloglovin', I'm kind of new to it but follow me on there. I also have Pinterest, I'm often procrastinating and pinning my life away... So do get in touch :).

The most Instagrammable Places to Eat in London

If there's one thing that's always on my mind, it's most likely food. Food is my one true love in life, I'm constantly thinking about what dish I'm going to devour next and I'm always on the look out for new places to try.

Most of the restaurants I go to are because I've been drooling over them on Instagram and want to nail that perfect Insta shot too. So without further a do, here are my favourite Instagrammable places to eat in London.

Sketch. Everything about this place is super cool and Instagrammable, from the space-egged toilets to the most gorgeous pink and copper interiors. Just look at those pretty pink velvet cushioned seats, I'd like to sit in one of those all day, every day please. The afternoon tea is also presented so beautifully and is so incredibly delicious, honestly the best afternoon tea I've ever had in my life!

Sketch, 9 Conduit St, Mayfair, London W1S 2XG

The Ivy Chelsea Garden.  #FoodInstagramGoals - That chocolate bombe dessert was amazeballs. 

Also, they have the most beautiful colourful flower display outside the restaurant at the moment, it's stunning and I can see why everyone wants to get that perfect outfit shot outside here.

The Ivy Chelsea Garden, 195 -197 King's Road, London SW3 5EQ

Farm Girl Cafe. The blogger hotspot. This may be a little controversial to some, but I have mixed feelings about this popular brunch spot. Yes everything looks so beautiful and is mega Instagrammable, who doesn't want a cute snap of their rose latte or a french bulldog stencilled on a matcha latte?! However, I feel that the food quality is massively hyped up. I'm glad we stopped by though.

Farm Girl Cafe, 59A Portobello Rd, London W11 3DB

Peggy Porschen. This has to be the most Instagrammed cake shop in London and it's no surprise why! It has the most gorgeous floral decor along the doorway and everything is pink - a girls dream backdrop! The cakes are also divine, do try the banoffee cupcake!

Peggy Porschen Cakes, 116 Ebury St, Belgravia, London SW1W 9QQ

Bob Bob Ricard. How beautiful are the interiors here?! I feel like I'm in a Great Gatsby movie sipping pink champagne and eating luxurious dishes. #Allthegoals.
They also have a 'press for champagne' button which is the coolest feature ever, I got a bit carried away and pressed it about twenty times, whoops. 

Bob Bob Ricard, 1 Upper James St, Soho, London W1F 9DF

A few other spots for Instagram friendly food include The Swan at Shakespeare's Globe for the Midsummer night's dreamy afternoon tea (top picture on the far left), Bread Ahead's incredible doughnuts (top picture in the middle), Mad Hatters Tea Party afternoon tea at the Sanderson (top picture on the far right), Duck & Waffle (middle row on the far left), The Breakfast Club (bottom row, far left) and bubblewrapwaffle (bottom row, far right).

Where are your favourite Instagram spots in London?

Follow me on Instagram: @zoeyoliviablog to see what I get up to daily. You can also reach me on twitter: @zoeyoliviablog. Or, if you like Bloglovin', I'm kind of new to it but follow me on there.