Saturday, 8 October 2022

25 Free Tools For Bloggers - Improve Your Content Writing With These Blogging Tips

Hi There..... Have you been trying hard to improve your content writing?


Picture by Seadbeady

Perhaps you could use some blogging tips from someone who has had some experience in the field. 😀

Ah yes, believe it or not, I was talking about myself. In August this year, I reached the magical 5-year blogging milestone. 😎

It’s so hard to believe I have been at it so long, and still haven’t made a fortune. I wonder if I wasn’t trying hard enough to hit that jackpot. 😳

Nah, unlike most, I am not into affiliate marketing. I'm not looking for that pot of gold. At least not here. Can you tell me where it is? 😂

That doesn’t mean I don’t want to deliver a quality blog post. So how do you create amazing content? 😱

I don’t have an exact answer, but what I am giving you today is a list of tools to help you get better at content writing. 😊

Then again, don’t try too hard, because I don’t want you to get better than me, and steal away all my readers. They are mine, and mine alone. 😜

What’s your favorite blogging tool? Do you have great blogging tips? You can always share them in a comment below. 😃

Picture by Seadbeady

1. Ahrefs

Discover keyword ideas.
Find relevant keywords from their database of over 8 billion queries. 
Just enter up to ten words or phrases and choose from one of the six keyword ideas reports.
Fill that content calendar of yours for weeks, months, or even years in just minutes.
Every keyword comes complete with local and global monthly search volume estimates and other advanced SEO metrics — all powered by clickstream data.

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2. Brainy Quote

BrainyQuote has been providing inspirational quotes since 2001 to their worldwide community.
BrainyQuote is the world's largest quotation site. They educate and entertain audiences of all ages with family-friendly quotations from history's most prominent figures through to today's newsmakers - celebrities, athletes, politicians, authors, and everything in between. They are passionate about quotes, and on a mission to share their knowledge with the world.

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3. Buffer

Publish Flawlessly, Analyze Effortlessly, and Engage Authentically.
Build your audience and grow your brand (blog) on social media
Plan and publish your content for Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn, all from one simple dashboard.

Get in-depth insights to grow your brand (blog) on social media
Measure social media performance, create gorgeous reports, and get recommendations to grow your reach, engagement & sales.

Build a loyal and engaged audience on social media.
See all of your comments, stay on top of important interactions, and turn followers into fans by using Buffer.

The link in bio that drives more traffic to your content for free
Start Page is a simple, beautiful, flexible link in bio page that brings together all of your best content in one place. Share it in your bios on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, or any other social profiles.

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4. Canva

Canva is an online design and publishing tool with a mission to empower you to design anything and publish anywhere.

Canva makes image creation super easy (especially for non-designers) with their pre-made templates, custom image sizes for every social media channel, drag-and-drop interface, cool fonts, and more.

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5. Days Of The Year

We gather all the special holidays, moments, and occasions from around the world that bring people together, and help everyone celebrate them with special events, helpful tips, and heaps of fun.

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6. E.ggTimer

E.ggTimer is a simple countdown timer.
As a writer, it's easy to lose track of time once you write. With this free time tracking tool, you can find out how much time you spent on each individual task.

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7. Evernote

Memorize everything and tackle any project where your notes, tasks, and schedules are all in one place.
Evernote was founded to address a growing problem that technology had helped create: how to succeed in a world of an ever-increasing amount and speed of information.
Today people are inundated with information. How to deal with it is unsettling. Evernote now helps people focus, and move forward on what matters most.

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8. Google Analytics

Get essential customer (blog readers) insights.
Get a full view of your customers (blog readers) across all devices and platforms. Google Analytics gives you free tools to understand the customer journey and improve your marketing ROI.

Measure interactions
Understand how your customers (blog readers) interact with your sites and apps throughout their lifecycle.

Discover new insights and anticipate future customer (blog reader) actions with machine learning from Google to get more value from your data.

Take action to optimize marketing performance with integrations into Google's advertising, and publishing tools.

Quickly analyze your data and work with an easy-to-use interface and shareable reports.

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9. Google Drive

Easy access to your content.
Store, share, and collaborate on files and folders from your mobile device, tablet, or computer.
Built-in protections against malware, spam, and ransomware.

Drive can provide encrypted and secure access to your files. Files shared with you can be proactively scanned and removed when malware, spam, ransomware, or phishing is detected. And Drive is cloud-native, which eliminates the need for local files and can minimize risk to your devices.

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10. Google Trends

Discover what the world is looking for. Our mission is to organize all the information in the world and make it universally accessible and useful.
Google Trends displays a list of the top hot searches and charts of the day. You can also see searches by category.

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11. Grammarly

Compose bold, clear, mistake-free writing with Grammarly’s new AI-powered desktop Windows app.
Get suggestions from Grammarly while you write in desktop applications and sites across the web—as you move between apps, social media, documents, messages, and email
From grammar and spelling to style and tone, Grammarly’s suggestions are comprehensive, helping you communicate effectively and as you intend.

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12. Optimizilla

This online tool shrinks JPEG, GIF, and PNG to the minimum size while keeping the required level of quality.
You can upload up to 20 images. Wait for the compression to finish. Click thumbnails in the queue for quality settings. Use the slider to control the compression level and mouse/gestures to compare images.

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13. Pixabay

Free images and videos to use anywhere
Pixabay is a vibrant community of creatives who share copyright-free images and videos. All content is released under the Pixabay license, which allows you to use them safely without asking permission or crediting the artist - even for commercial purposes.
Stunning free images & royalty free stock
Our talented community shares over 2.6 million high-quality stock images, videos, and music.

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14. Pixlr

Photo editor, animation, and design.
The No. 1 in photo editing and design tools. Edit photos and create stunning designs right in your browser, on your phone or desktop, for free. 

Start with a blank canvas, a photo, or a video, and select one of the professionally created templates.

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15. ProWritingAid

ProWritingAid provides more features than any other manuscript editing software on the market, including many that are unique to our product. We want to help you write the best you can.
Whatever kind of writer you are, ProWritingAid helps you improve your writing skills and get your ideas across more clearly.

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16. Quora

It's Quora’s mission to share and grow the world’s knowledge. Not all knowledge can be in writing and much of that which can be still isn't. 

It remains in people’s heads or is only accessible if you know the right person. They want to connect the people who have this knowledge to the people who need it, bring together people with different perspectives so they can understand each other better, and empower everyone to share their knowledge for the benefit of the rest of the world.

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17. Removal.ai

Removal.AI is an emerging online image background remover, and photo editor software company. They provide services to improve images using innovative technology. They incorporate knowledge-based techniques and advanced image-processing methods to create outstanding outputs. 

Their expert team has years of professional experience in photo editing, retouching, and artificial intelligence technology. They are aiming to simplify clients’ workflows to foster productivity, creativity, and design.

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18. SEO Review Tools

They started SRT (SEO Review Tools) because they were working on another SEO tool project, which was a pretty frustrating experience. It was too complex, too many people were involved, too many critical decisions.. just too corporate. 

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19. Tailwind

They've rebuilt the main flow of Tailwind to promote multi-channel marketing from the get-go, and are developing or acquiring unique technologies that make it workable for small businesses to market themselves across multiple channels with limited time and resources.

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20. Toggl

Time tracking that's easy, powerful, and frictionless.
Boost performance and get paid for every billable minute with an intuitive tool that makes time tracking painless for the entire team.
Skip the timesheets and get your team an intuitive tool that gets the job done for you.

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21. Trello

A tool to jot down ideas for articles. You can also use it as a content planner/calendar.
Trello is a visual tool that empowers your team to manage any type of project, workflow, or task tracking.
It’s more than work. It’s a way of working together.
Start with a Trello board, lists, and cards. Customize and expand with more features as your teamwork grows. Manage projects, organize tasks, and build team spirit—all in one place.

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22. Tweak Your Biz

Generate impressive titles for articles and blog posts.
An outstanding title can increase tweets, Facebook Likes, and visitor traffic by 50% or more.
Tweak Your Biz is a thought-leading global publication and online business community. Today, it receives over 50,000 unique views per month and publishes a ton of articles every month covering every aspect of the startup, entrepreneur, and corporate lifestyle.

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23. Unsplash

Photos for everyone. Unsplash is the internet’s source of freely usable images with over three million curated photos.

They hand-select every photo and accept only the best, so that no matter what you need—you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for on Unsplash.

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24. Website Authority Checker

Domain Authority / Page Authority checker.
In the eyes of Google, not all websites are equal. Some sites get tons of search traffic from Google each day (think of Wikipedia, Amazon, IMDB…), while others are struggling to show up in the SERPs (Search Engine Result pages). 

There are two major factors influencing the performance/rankings of your website in search.
The Website Authority Checker helps you to quickly check the authority of a website to give you a very strong indication of how well a website can perform in Google.

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25. Wordcounter

Apart from counting words and characters, our online editor can help you improve word choice and writing style, and, optionally, help you detect grammar mistakes and plagiarism. To check the word count, simply place your cursor into the text box above and start typing. You'll see the number of characters and words increase or decrease as you type, delete, and edit them. You can also copy and paste text from another program into the online editor above. The Auto-Save feature will make sure you won't lose any changes while editing, even if you leave the site and come back later.  

Those are my blogging tips for today. I hope they help you with your content writing next time. 😍

Hope you like my blog.....Until next time.....Have a nice day 

Renata (Seadbeady) 

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts and receive the next blog posts in your Email inbox  

Follow me on Instagram

Join me in my Facebook group to get more involved, if you want to be in my next gift guide, or just keep in touch 

Want to be on my blog next time?? Want me to review your product?? Just send me a message.

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Wednesday, 5 October 2022

Interview With Fashion Designers Jackson Cunningham and Josh Bluman

Hi There..... Are you ready for a new fashion designer's interview? 


Picture provided by Jackson Cunningham and Josh Bluman

Today’s interview is all about men’s suspenders. Did you ever wear them? I haven’t, or at least not as far as I can recall. No, they weren’t a thing when I was a baby, so that’s out of the question, too. 😏

What I have worn a very long time ago is a garter belt. Ah yes, on my wedding day, because my mom talked me into it. Not that I minded, because I found it quite fun, and it absolutely fit the type of dress I wore that day. 😊

Picture by Seadbeady

Romantic, isn’t it? I can’t show you the garter belt anymore, because it got lost somewhere, and after 36 years, we still haven’t found it. Perhaps some jealous broad took it thinking, “If I’m not getting any tonight, you won’t either”. 😂

I’m going to whisper because not everyone needs to know what I'm going to tell you right now. Perhaps we were way too tired to do anything but sleep on our wedding night. True or false, you will never know. 😴

Enough of this whispering time to scream it out about those men's suspenders from the fashion designers on my blog. Ah yes, they came in a package of 2 this time. 😉

Picture provided by Jackson Cunningham and Josh Bluman

What are your name, function, and the company you work for?

We are Jackson Cunningham and Josh Bluman, the Founders of JJ Suspenders!

How old are you?

35

What kind of work do you do, or what are you studying to be? 

We are entrepreneurs with a background in marketing and product development.

What made you decide to become a Fashion Designer?

We actually never originally intended to become fashion designers, rather it just kind of happened when we entered the suspender business. Basically, we saw an excellent opportunity to make a higher quality product and to deliver on that promise we had to learn fashion design. Luckily, it worked out well!
 
Picture provided by Jackson Cunningham and Josh Bluman

Is fashion important to you? Why?

Absolutely. It's how you present yourself. The vibe you want to give. It's how you represent yourself and identify with others. A form of art. 

What are your successes, and how did you achieve them?

We're very proud of our company, jjsuspenders.com which was successful right from the start. It was the first time we designed our own products, and we put a lot of effort into making sure every detail was perfect.

Is the name of the Brand important to you when you buy clothing?

It depends. You can buy a brand because they have a reputation, and therefore you don't have to think about the purchase as much or evaluate other options if you trust them. Or the brand could represent something you want to be a part of. I think both can be important depending on the type of clothing. 

Describe your personal style of clothing?

Minimalist!

How did you find your personal style? Do you have a signature look? 

I enjoy going with what’s easy and consistent. So these days, a crisp white tee shirt and jeans.

Picture provided by Jackson Cunningham and Josh Bluman

Do you have an influence on other people’s clothing style?

I don't try to. But with our business, jjsuspenders.com, for sure. Lots of people are inspired by the styles of men's suspenders and the options we present in how you can wear them.

What are in your eyes the best trends at the moment?

Over the last few years, seems to be organic and rustic colors (dark greens, browns, reds). But I suspect more bold and bright colors are on the horizon. Cottage core is also interesting. You should check out my friend Natalia (https://www.instagram.com/wandwoodsstudio/) who just launched a brand aligned with this trend. 

What are in your eyes the worst trends at the moment?

Nothing comes to mind, really. Style is so personal, and we should be careful not to judge others.

What kind of fashion advice would you give us?

Be yourself. Wear what you want. But consider best practices and your audience. For example, if you're going to a rustic wedding, you may not want to dress overly formal. But, maybe you do? As long as you're aware of your own style, and your audience, you'll be golden.

Picture provided by Jackson Cunningham and Josh Bluman

Thanks so much, Jackson and Josh for answering all my questions. I love how refined your men's suspenders are. 😍

Would you mind asking your friend if she would care to be on my blog because I also love her style? 😁


Hope you like my blog.....Until next time.....Have a nice day 

Renata (Seadbeady) 

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts and receive the next blog posts in your Email inbox  

Follow me on Instagram

Join me in my Facebook group to get more involved, if you want to be in my next gift guide, or just keep in touch 

Want to be on my blog next time?? Want me to review your product?? Just send me a message.

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Saturday, 1 October 2022

Most Comfortable underwear for women - HemdVoorHem - Sloggi Women's Briefs

Hi There..... Would you find it somewhat awkward to talk about women’s briefs for a change? 


Picture by Seadbeady
I would love to know what you think is the most comfortable underwear for women. Then again, is there such a thing? Everyone is different? What’s best for me could very well be the worst for you. 😊

That’s no doubt the reason there are so many types of women’s briefs. There are hipsters, thongs, mid-rise, cheeky,... Yes, cheeky, I didn't just invent the name. 😈

I wonder if I even like the fact that there is such an enormous range. That makes it extremely hard for me to choose. 😟

Of course, I like it. Come on, you’d have to be crazy not to. Nobody ever said you have to wear the same type of women’s briefs every day. Then again, you can never be too sure what people may have said or not. 😜

Believe me, there is nothing as important as your underwear to be comfortable and give you confidence. 😎

Ah yes, confidence is key to success. Everything you think, do and say influences your confidence, even something as stupid as the choice of your underwear. 😉

That's why I was so excited to get this pack of 4 Sloggi basic briefs from HemdVoorHem in exchange for my honest opinion. 😍

Picture by Seadbeady

HemdVoorHem also now HemdVoorHaar

For women's blouses, shirts, night or loungewear, socks, slippers, and underwear, you can now simply order online at HemdVoorHaar.nl. 

The same ease and service level that you are used to at HemdVoorHem.nl is now also available for women who like to wear a blouse and find it difficult to find the right one. 

At HemdVoorHaar.nl, you will find blouses that we carefully select for you. Choose from our favorites from the Eterna and Seidensticker brands for perfect fit and ideal everyday blouses. 

You can now also order the best and nicest socks and the finest underwear at HemdVoorHaar.nl. Easy online ordering with free shipping and returns.

Picture by Seadbeady

Sloggi Women's Briefs

Black Sloggi women maxi slip in a handy 4-pack, the wonderfully soft cotton waist slip from Sloggi from the Basic series. 

Because of the elastane, the briefs fit like a glove and stay in shape. The finish is smooth and soft, making these classic women's briefs very pleasant to wear. Available in a handy set of four, also available in other colors.

Details

Close Fit
Waistband width = Narrow
Type of fabric underwear = Stretch cotton
Packed Quantity = 4
Type of fabric = Tricot
Material composition = 95% cotton, 5% elastane
Colour = black
Design = Uni
Collection = Basic
Gender = Women
Washing instructions = 60 degrees machine wash
Elastic = Yes
Waist height = High
Model briefs = Waist briefs
Seamless = No


Picture by Seadbeady

My opinion on the Sloggi Women's Briefs

I know you didn't get any pictures of me wearing those briefs, but I didn't want to give you guys a heart attack. 😂

I want the number of readers to keep going up, and not go down because you didn't survive my horror pictures. 

What's most important here is not haunting you in your dreams but to tell you my opinion on those women's briefs. 😉

Picture provided by HemdVoorHaar

They may not be the sexiest, but definitely the most comfortable underwear for women I ever had. I almost forgot they were on me. The maxi style is perfect as it is nice and high, with no muffin-top! 😍

I would recommend, however, ordering at least one size larger than you are accustomed to. 😊

Now, close your eyes if you are faint of heart, but finally, here is the picture you have been waiting for so long. Me in my new underwear. 🙈

Picture by Seadbeady

If you want to know more or have some extra time to spend reading, here are some of my previous blog posts about HemdVoorHem.


Hope you like my blog.....Until next time.....Have a nice day 

Renata (Seadbeady) 

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts and receive the next blog posts in your Email inbox  

Follow me on Instagram

Join me in my Facebook group to get more involved, if you want to be in my next gift guide, or just keep in touch 

Want to be on my blog next time?? Want me to review your product?? Just send me a message.

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Saturday, 24 September 2022

Where To Find Cool Gadgets - CoolGift - Unique Gift Ideas

Hi There..... Are you looking for some unique gift ideas or cool gadgets? 


Picture by Seadbeady 

Yes? Great because I would like to tell you some more about a site filled with those. No? You never know when you might need some inspiration, so sit down and stay before you make me mad. 😈

Oh my, I almost forgot that it's impossible for you to make me mad because I already am a mad old lady. 😂

Then again, perhaps I am more of a sad old lady, because with the price of gas and electricity running up at the same pace, who can afford anything? 😨

Will we need those unique gift ideas or even be able to hunt for cool gifts? They might come to haunt us in our dreams. 😱

I can imagine dreams of walking in large shops with lots of gifts. Then every time you want to grab something, an enormous price tag almost falls on your head and you have to duck every time to avoid it. 😵

That would be quite a nightmare, but what would you think about affordable quality gifts? Sounds great, doesn't it? 😎

CoolGift sent me 2 cool gadgets for my honest opinion. 😍

Picture by Seadbeady

CoolGift History

It started in 2007 with the name iGadgets.be. This successful project continued 2 years later in the Netherlands with the name iCadeau.nl. Germany and France quickly followed.

In 2015, we expanded all over Western Europe, so we switched to the more international name: www.coolgift.com.

CoolGift Service

Because we want to provide our customers with the maximum amount of information about the gifts on display, fun brief articles, pictures, specifications, videos, and customer reviews describe each product clearly.

Through the website, visitors can make purchases in a pleasant, transparent, and safe way, and track the handling and shipping of their order in an orderly fashion right up to the moment of delivery.

B2B

Next to private customers, we regularly ship to companies as well. Thanks to our partner company in the Far East, and through direct contacts with manufacturers all over the world, we can match each product to the right purchasing channels. If you want fast delivery, we can rely on our own well-stocked warehouse.

Our range of products is particularly well suited for promotional gadgets & business gifts, starting at 50 up to +10 000 pieces.

Picture by Seadbeady

Rocky Dressing Gown

Bathroom fashion for men with a macho complex. You won't see it on the catwalk in Milan soon, but this bathrobe has an Italian touch. For those who have seen the film Rocky, the caption “Italian Stallion” will probably also sound familiar.

Hum “Eye of the tiger” as you get ready to step into the ring… uh, sorry, in the tub. Knock dirt and stress off. Just wipe with a sponge after the first round and you're ready to go.

For movie buffs or those who might simply be drawn to the lettering on the back, this Rocky robe is by far the softest boxing experience.

Picture by Seadbeady

My opinion on the Rocky Dressing Gown

This could be a fun surprise if you are looking for unique gift ideas for a Rocky fan. I bet lots of people have seen the Rocky movies, and are familiar with the phrase on the back of the robe. 😊

It looks exactly as pictured. At first, it appeared to be on the thin side, but once fitted, you absolutely feel the warmth of it. I made someone here at home thrilled with this nice and soft robe. 😍

Picture by Seadbeady

Alarm clock with radio function

It not only recharges your batteries after a night of sleep, but it also charges those of your smartphone. Simply put your phone on the alarm clock. Your smartphone must support Qi technology to make use of this function. Most of today's smartphones that support wireless charging support this. If your phone does not support this technology? Then you simply charge it with the USB cable.

The clock radio is an alarm clock with a radio function. You choose whether an alarm signal wakes you up or your favorite radio station. In addition, we equipped the alarm clock with a dual alarm function. That means you can set the alarm not solely for yourself, but also for your partner, boyfriend, girlfriend, or whoever sleeps next to you! You can also adjust the brightness of the display.

Picture by Seadbeady

My opinion on the Alarm clock

A half year ago, my alarm clock died. We threw it away, but never got a new one. Who needs one when you have a cell phone with an alarm function, right? 😜

Duh, wrong, of course. Do you know how annoying it is to look at the time on your phone when you are half asleep? I can't help it. When I wake up in the middle of the night, which happens often, I want to know what the time is. 😦

What could be easier than an alarm clock? Oh my, I have never been looking forward to waking up in the night as much as tonight, and if the light bothers you, you can always dim it a little or completely. 😉

Hope you like my blog.....Until next time.....Have a nice day 

Renata (Seadbeady) 

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts and receive the next blog posts in your Email inbox  

Follow me on Instagram

Join me in my Facebook group to get more involved, if you want to be in my next gift guide, or just keep in touch 

Want to be on my blog next time?? Want me to review your product?? Just send me a message.

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Sunday, 18 September 2022

Interview with Jewelry Designer Eleanor Lecocq

Hi There..... Would you agree that it's time to share another jewelry designer interview?


Picture provided by Eleanor Lecocq

How about I answer the question for you? Yes, it is high time. I have kept you waiting long enough. Isn't it great, and so easy to agree with yourself? 😁

I have never liked conflicts. As a highly sensitive person and peace-loving individual, I try my best to avoid upsetting those around me. 😊

That includes you, so I'd say, "well done", and give myself a pad on the back. That jewelry designer interview will get published, no matter what. 😃

Life can be easy if you just let it. What's the point of stressing if you can avoid it? My mom used to tell me, "Maak je niet dik, dun is de mode". 😊

That's a hard one to translate for you (don't get fat, because thin is in fashion), but it kinda means don't let it get to you, don't fuss. 😉

Isn't that the best advice ever? So don't let me upset you, but just keep on reading about this interesting jewelry designer. 😍

Picture provided by Eleanor Lecocq

What are your name, function, and the company you work for?  

Eleanor Lecocq, I’m an attorney and content creator, and owner of ElleFlorence.com fine jewelry.

How old are you?

33

What kind of work do you do, or what are you studying to be? 

I’m a transactional corporate attorney, which means I’m an advisor to businesses of all sizes seeking to buy or sell their business or raise financing to achieve their goals. 

What made you decide to become a Jewelry Designer?

Jewelry design and law were my two dream careers, so I pursued both and apprenticed as a jewelry designer at a young age. 

For many years it was a hobby, but eventually, I seized the day and launched my line of modern freshwater, Tahitian and Akoya pearl jewelry.

Is fashion important to you? Why? 

Fashion is important to me personally as a form of creative expression, to balance my analytical side. 

Being a fashion business owner is important to me because I am so proud to help other women feel polished and professional, but still express their unique style in the workplace and beyond.

Picture provided by Eleanor Lecocq

What are your successes, and how did you achieve them?

I feel very blessed to have attracted a community of smart, savvy women who I look up to online through my YouTube channel, Elle Florence. 

I’ve kept it going for a decade, and my life has changed a lot, but I’ve always been grateful for their kindness and interest in my creative pursuits while I work full time.

Is the name of the Brand important to you when you buy clothing?

No, quality is. Sometimes fine workmanship goes with a brand, such as well respected fine leather talented designers, but often it does not. Small businesses put a level of love and care in their designs that are hard to scale.

Describe your personal style of clothing?

Romantic and classic with fearless color. 

How did you find your personal style? Do you have a signature look? 

I have definitely borrowed from my mom and grandmother in terms of classic style. I love the look of a sleek cashmere sweater with my modern pearl jewelry and a chunky block heel in the fall, winter, and spring with beautiful jewel-tone colors. 

Do you have an influence on other people’s clothing style?

I don’t seek to be an influencer, but by producing content that shares things I love, I’ve done so. When I’m tagged in a photo where I see cashmere, Ponte pants, and pearls, I know I have a like-minded friend I haven’t met, who has seen my content!

Picture provided by Eleanor Lecocq

What are in your eyes the best trends at the moment?

I love the empire waists and romantic style right now. Dôen is doing it beautifully with dresses, for example. If you stick to the less ruffly pieces, these dresses will last for many seasons. 

What are in your eyes the worst trends at the moment?

I feel absolutely done with big ruffles and bows on clothing, but it persists. Anything else that’s too fussy to be comfortable or wearable in real life is a miss for me. 

What kind of fashion advice would you give us?

Buy quality pieces that will last for years, not months. For example, get solid gold or gold-filled jewelry, not gold-plated. The latter’s electroplating wears off quickly and is not a good price-to-quality ratio. 

I’ve gotten good at online shopping–follow your instincts and add things to your basket when you shop online, and before you check out, rank them in order of favorite to least favorite. 

I usually remove my least favorite before checking out to avoid impulse buying.

Who is your style icon and why?

My grandmother always put effort into her appearance, even when she felt unwell, and took genuine joy in it. I think watching her get ready has infused everything I design!

Is there something else you would like to share with us?

Find me at ElleFlorence on IG, YT, or add the .com to check out my jewelry!

Picture provided by Eleanor Lecocq

Thanks, Eleanor, for filling in my questions. I love you picked your grandmother as a style icon. Oh, by the way, congrats on your engagement. 😘

Hope you like my blog.....Until next time.....Have a nice day 

Renata (Seadbeady) 

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Wednesday, 14 September 2022

Interview With Makeup Artist Mandie Brice

Hi There..... Would you be interested in an interview with a makeup artist? Have you ever been in their makeup chair?


Picture provided by Mandie Brice

Would be a bummer if it’s not of interest to you because I love to give you something new once in a while. I swear, it’s the truth. 😇

I suppose you are wondering what led me to this new type of interview. Then again, maybe not. That’s too bad for you then, because I am sharing it. 😜

I saw a series recently called “Face Off”. It’s a competition and elimination series where they choose makeup artists who go through various rounds of challenges in which they have to come up with amazing creations. 😲

It made me so sad to see there only were 2 seasons. I could have kept watching this for way much longer, even though I am not into binge-watching. 😢

I would say that on average I watch one or 2 episodes a day. Can you imagine how much longer I would have been able to watch at that pace? 😏

Ah, no use crying over spilled milk. It's better to just take a tissue and clean it up because milk makes nasty stains. 😉

Now that everything is nice and tidy again, I can continue with my new makeup artist interview. 😊

Picture provided by Mandie Brice

What are your name, function, and the company you work for?  

I’m Mandie Brice, and I am a self-employed creative entrepreneur. One of my creative endeavors (the focus of this profile) is my makeup artistry. 

How old are you?

I’ll be 41 in September!

What kind of work do you do, or what are you studying to be? 

I have been a working artist for about fifteen years. 

What made you decide to become a Makeup Artist?

It has been quite the journey, but I started as a photographer and transitioned quickly to modeling. 

I loved playing dress-up and so many other aspects of the industry, and like all of us, I “wasn’t getting any younger,” and wanted to stay in the industry. 

On lots of shoots that either were lower budget or at crazy times or locations, I had done my own makeup and had gotten good at it. 

I’m obsessed with learning, so any time I was in someone's makeup chair, I paid close attention to what they were doing. I even had the experience several times modeling for makeup classes, and I soaked up all the knowledge I could. 

So, I figured I’d build a portfolio, and then I ended up being way more successful as a makeup artist than as a model. 

Picture provided by Mandie Brice

Is beauty important to you? Why? 

It is, but probably not in the way most people would imagine a makeup artist to answer this question. Beauty in everything is important and I’m really inspired by that, whether it’s nature, art in a museum, or street fashion - if you’re looking for it, you’ll find it. 

In terms of makeup-related beauty, the most important thing is how it makes someone feel. I am not just applying makeup, I am often applying confidence - and not just with my brushes, but also in the conversations I have with the person in my makeup chair. 

I have worked with lots of speakers who are nervous before their speeches, or people about to be interviewed for a tv broadcast who’ve never been on tv and are terrified. 

They may not even SEE their makeup (because in those cases, a natural look is best), but my role is to help them look and feel their best. 

What are your successes, and how did you achieve them?

Makeup-wise, I’ve created a makeup course and written a book - both designed for people who are new to makeup and need beginner training. 

I think those have the power to help the most people, and even though they aren’t best-sellers, I am proud of the way they can make an impact. 

I’ve done makeup for People Magazine a handful of times, had my work on the cover of The Village Voice, and worked with a handful of celebrities. Those are the things that people are usually most impressed by. Most of that was through my agent, who is wonderful. 

One of my favorite success stories is from the day I got to spend working with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. I love this story because I am a huge basketball fan and he was magnificent, but also because when the producer was booking me, she said “There are tons of makeup artists in LA we could have booked, but it’s not as easy to find one that is actually nice to have on the set.” I didn’t think I’d be getting jobs because I’m nice, but I’ll take it! 

And a success that I hold close to my heart was YEARS ago… I had a bride who had dermatillomania (a type of OCD-related condition where you pick your skin compulsively), and I could cover a lot of her scars. She still thanks me for how beautiful she felt that day. 

Is the name of the Brand important to you when you buy make-up?

Overall, no. I have mostly pro brands in my kit, but we pro artists talk, and there are a lot of drugstore, and few known products we swear by. It doesn’t have to be expensive to make my kit, it just has to do its job and do it well! 

Describe your personal make-up style?

Again, this differs from how you’d probably imagine most makeup artists, but I am really a “less is more” natural look person, which may be why I ended up in the men’s grooming niche so often. I love healthy-looking skin, dewy lips, and defined eyes. 

How did you find your personal style? Do you have a signature look? 

It’s funny - when I first started my career, I was super attracted to all that glitters, bright colors, etc. And honestly, it definitely still catches my eye, but those end up unused in my kit (possibly also because of geography). 

Over time, my focus went from “what fancy thing can I do to this person’s face” to “how can I bring this person’s features out the best?” And the same goes for my makeup. 

Occasionally, I get bored and experiment, and I’m no stranger to randomly going the pin-up route for a wedding or event. 

Picture provided by Mandie Brice

Do you have an influence on other people’s makeup or clothing style?

Absolutely. Because of my profession, I get a lot of “What do you think of this” texts and social media messages. I feel like the term “influencer” has almost become a dirty word, which is unfortunate, but I have influence. 

What are in your eyes the best trends at the moment?

I LOVE the 90s are having a big moment right now, because I was 9-19 years old, and ADORED that era. I mean - the supermodels, the fashion, the music, the movies… This is more in fashion now than makeup, but you still see that signature 90s dark lip. 

What are in your eyes the worst trends at the moment?

I am a believer that makeup is a way of self-expression, so I try not to hate on trends. It’s supposed to be fun, and that includes looking back and laughing at it years later. 

It seems the dramatically drawn-on brows trend (Instagram eyebrows) is on its way out, and I won’t miss it. I feel the same about an over-the-top contour. The only thing I dislike about some trends is that they can be dangerous when people see someone on TikTok misusing a product and it goes viral. 

What kind of beauty advice would you give us?

Cultivate your beauty from the inside out. Taking care of your health (physical and mental) affects your beauty more than any makeup could. And take care of your skin! 

The best makeup is having beautiful, healthy skin that doesn't need much attention. And when it comes time to do your makeup, do whatever makes you feel good, as long as you’re following good hygiene and safety practices!

Who is your style icon and why?

After preaching about natural beauty and minimalism in my makeup routine, I’m throwing the “Iris Apfel” curveball. I adore how unapologetic she is. I keep toying around to show more of my eccentricities through fashion and beauty but haven’t gotten there yet, though motherhood is definitely expediting the process of not caring what others think so much. 

Is there something else you would like to share with us? 

I would love to hear from anyone who this resonated with or who has questions! You can find me on my makeup-specific Instagram account @makeupbymandiebrice.  

Picture provided by Mandie Brice

Thank you so much Mandie for sharing so many insights. I am also much more drawn to natural makeup looks. 😍

Hope you like my blog.....Until next time.....Have a nice day 

Renata (Seadbeady) 

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts and receive the next blog posts in your Email inbox  

Follow me on Instagram

Join me in my Facebook group to get more involved, if you want to be in my next gift guide, or just keep in touch 

Want to be on my blog next time?? Want me to review your product?? Just send me a message.

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