Pieces Of Ashley

Blogging has taught me so much over the years, but two things have stuck out to me the most. The first thing is confidence. I struggled with my self esteem, but blogging has since boosted my confidence. Writing has made me feel important and I am proud of myself. The second thing is very important, this platform gives you a chance to show everyone who you are and what interests you. You might say why is this an important factor when blogging. I’ll tell you why if you’re a shy person like me, sometimes expressing how you feel and showing people what you like is hard to do in person. So having a diary on the internet gives people an idea of who you are. The cool thing about it is that you find others who enjoy some of the same things as you do. Not to stray away from the point of this post, but I thought I would share this. It’s not totally random but I do have a point in this situation. In a previous post I wrote about blogging, I explained why writing wasn’t fun for me anymore....

  If blogging is so easy, then everyone would be making a living from it. When I started blogging about six years ago I had no clue what I was doing. I didn’t really know anyone and there were no post to help me. Today blogging has become so much bigger and to see this makes me happy. But I’m not really hear to talk about the positive things that come with blogging. I see so many people on social media believing blogging is just a way to make money, but they have no idea this is far from the truth.  Don’t get me wrong you can make money, but it won’t get you the million dollar house you’ve been looking for. But if you tell someone who doesn’t understand, they will say you’re a liar. What a lot of people fail to realize is that, there is a whole process that goes into blogging. Whether blogging is a hobby or a full/ part-time job it’s difficult. I find it insulting sometimes when non bloggers go on a rant, saying blogging is not hard work and all you do is get free stu...

  At some point in time, when your heart isn’t into something you should take a break. Blogging is great and I couldn’t see myself without it. However sometimes it can get overwhelming and that’s what happened to me this year. For about eight months I have not blogged and I thought I was a bad person for that. I have realized that it was best to take the long break. In doing so, I have found so many things I love to talk about. I was holding myself back because I put a label on myself, wanting to be known as a beauty blogger. Sure I attached the lifestyle part, but honestly I don’t really know what that means.  During this year I had time to reflect on where I wanted my blog to go and whether I even wanted to write anymore. Honestly the motivation to blog was not there at all and at that time, I really didn’t care if I continued. I did not want to look at my blog or deal with it. For me I was tired of putting in the work and not getting anything in return. Meaning no ...

  This year will be six years of blogging for me and I still feel like I’m just starting. Back when I first decided to blog, it wasn’t as popular as it is now. I had no one to talk to for advice. There wasn’t really any post on how to start a blog and if there was, I didn’t know about it. I’m not one to really give advice on what to, I can only share my experience and hopefully you’ll learn a better way to do things. I do have some things I wished I would have known when it comes to blogging, but I don’t regret them because it helped me become better. So here are the five things I wish I that I knew before blogging!  Promoting Your Blog  I remember when I first started blogging, I had no clue what I was doing. To be honest I was so consumed with views and numbers. But who isn’t when you first start blogging? I wanted people to read what I had to say and the things that interests me. I didn’t realize that promoting your blog, was the key to get views and comment...

  Five years ago on this exact date my life changed. Part of my life I guess you can say. You what scratch that, blogging has become a huge part of me. It has definitely made a huge impact on me. The only thing that’s the same is my personality and I still look the same! In this post I’m going to be more open with you guys. I’m going to tell you I how felt about my blog up until last year. I’m honest in everything I write, so why should this be any different. In another post that I wrote, I mentioned I started blogging in June of 2012. Unfortunately that didn’t work out and I deleted the blog no sooner than I published my first post.  I’m actually glad it didn’t work out, because I wasn’t ready. So it’s safe to say I started exactly when I was suppose to. Before that I had no confidence at all and my self esteem was really low. Now in this present time it’s gotten a lot better but I’m still a work in progress. But anyway I’m moving ahead of myself. I had no idea what ...

  I don't know what my life would have been like if I wasn't a blogger. For some reason I don't ever want to know. I can't believe I'm saying these words, very sentimental and funny at the same time. I didn't even know what blogging was until I started on social media.    Sometimes I wish that I had started blogging sooner than I did. What if I hadn't deleted my blog in June 2012? What if I gave up completely and never started again in October of that same year? So many questions but yet I don't really have a clear answer.  Over the years I've learned so much about myself and about other people. I can go on a long rant about how much blogging has changed me. But I'm pretty sure that would be boring and awkward. So I decide to share the 6 things I love about blogging.  The Blogging Community  I haven't experienced any negativity from the blogging community, so I would have to say it's amazing. Everyone is so supportive a...

Never in a million years did I think, I would have a blog. But here I am! There have been times where I just didn't know if this was for me. I have realized that blogging is something that has changed me in a positive way and I don't see it going away. Whenever I'm feeling down about blogging, I always find myself going to some amazing blogs for help. But it's the people behind those blogs that have motivated me.  Each of them work so hard on their blogs and photos. Sometimes I wonder where they find all of that motivation. I applaud these bloggers for their dedication. Although I've been blogging for almost five years, I've learned a lot from the past year or so.  Jemma  is one of the most coolest people in the world, to bad I haven't met her yet. Her personality is very bubbly and colorful just like her hair. Jemma takes pride in anything that she does and that encourages me to work harder. She is also very talented, she creates blog headers a...

During my four years of blogging, I've experienced a lot of ups and downs. Although I'm not a newbie I still feel like I am. I feel as if I haven't evolved, but that's nonsense because I do see growth from where I started. I don't know where I fit in as a blogger. My pictures are not perfect but compared to where I was before, I definitely upgraded in my picture taking. Even though I said I would not give up, it's hard. No one really understands what it's like to be a blogger unless, you've been there or you're still doing it. There is so much work that goes into it like taking pictures and writing great content. But being able to grab readers attention is quite tough. I know there's hundreds of bloggers, but sometimes I feel unnoticed. I don't want this to feel like a pity party by no means. I just think about these things at night time. I am my own worst critic and I don't give myself enough credit. I wouldn't say that I've c...

  I feel like the second half of the year is going by so fast. I can't believe we're in week two of November, soon before you know Thanksgiving will be here. This year has been a wake up call for me and I'm getting myself together. In the past I've talked about goals that I want to accomplish for the month, but I really don't follow through with most. I actually feel like a hill, just thinking about it. But this time things have changed and the goals I have will be accomplished. Life is too short and I'm almost twenty five years old, I'm starting to find out what I want in life. I guess you can say I had an epiphany, which always happens at night which is the time I think about life a lot.   I feel like at night it's the most quiet, so my mind isn't going one hundred miles per hour. I don't know whether that's a good thing or a bad thing. So instead of falling off the wagon, I decided to make weekly goals for the month instead. I hop...

    It's crazy and sentimental how on this day 4 years I started blogging. Before than I couldn't have even imagined I would writing let alone on the internet using social media. Except Facebook, I've had that a few years before blogging. I guess I'm reflecting on everything I have experienced and the things I've learned along the way. Whether or not blogging is a job or a hobby for you, both are very hard work. Looking back I have come along way from the girl who didn't know how to take pictures or the girl who didn't think her writing was good enough. I'm not exactly where I want to be, but I have made a lot of big steps. I couldn't imagine not blogging, on twitter I would say this a lot. To be honest it's true, I have came across a lot of people who have inspired me. Not to long ago, I talked about not censoring my blog and expanding the kinds of topics I enjoy. I have so many goals and dreams for my blog. No matter how hard I try I ca...

  During one of my favorite chats #ltbloggers (lunchtime bloggers) we talked about blogging. While I'm interacting, I think about all the flaws I have as a blogger. The three listed below is something I've always felt. Since I am turning over a "new leaf" and since I am happier as a blogger, I thought I would share them with you.   Is my blog good enough? Worrying about whether my blog is good enough, this is something I think a lot about. I always try to encourage others, but I also have to take my own advice. I want my blog to attract others, but most importantly I want to like my own blog. From interacting with other bloggers on twitter, I realized I am not the only one who feels this way. Sometimes I'm guilty of comparing my blog to others. "Their blog is so great, why can't mine be that way"? "I work hard on my blog posts, is it boring"? "I'm just being myself, is that a bad thing"?   Is this design right f...

It's always good to set goals for yourself. Goals keep you focused, organized, and they remind you of things you have to do. So here's a short and simple post of goals I will like to accomplish for the month of June! Stay Productive : I am proud of myself. So far I've been really productive when it comes to blogging. I have been really consistent this year and I am feeling accomplished. Continuing Blogging about what I enjoy : I feel like this has been a great blogging year for me. I really do feel conscious about what I blog. I want to write more recipe post, the lighting is not the best. I am definitely working on it though. Make more blogging friends : The blogging community is really great, I don't feel like an outsider anymore (Something that I used to feel). I have made some really good friends from blogging, that's a positive outcome for me. I hope to continue making friends. Do more DIYs : I love DIYs, their great and it's much more cheaper to...

Anytime someone thinks my blog is worth reading I feel so grateful. Thank you Ana from Oh My Louboutin for nominating me! She is so nice and you all should check out her blog and give her a follow!   The Rules Thank the person who gave you this award, and leave a link to their blog. Tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself. Select 15 blogs/bloggers that you've recently discovered or follow regularly Nominate those 15 bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award.   7 things about me I'm a little indecisive I'm a fan of wrestling I'm a fan of basketball I watch law & order:svu I love hot chocolate I love comfort foods I'm obsessed with Netflix   My Nominees (I do not have 15) Deedee wrappedinmauve Lory's channel Make-up and Beauty Simone Mars Jessica Sabrina Bisma Aimee Laura I hope you enjoyed reading!

  If you look at my blog you will probably think that I'm not the most ideal blogger. But that's ok, in fact you are probably right. I don't have a consistent blog schedule and most of the time, I do not plan out my posts I just write. The only thing I do is edit my pictures and my writing. I do have a notebook I use to write ideas, but that's about it. After months of trying to come up with a blog schedule I can't do it. If I do, then I will have to keep up with it. For me not having a blog schedule is the best thing. If I want to share a new product with you or share how I'm feeling, I will start writing. Most likely that post will be up the same day or the next. I'm not the most fancy blogger or the most popular, but me doing things my way sets me apart from other bloggers. This post may be a little unorganized, but I'm just saying how I feel. Do not get me wrong, if you are organized that's awesome I want to be organized. But for now I am ac...

Over the past few weeks I've been making changes to my blog! Like the design of my blog, I decided that I wanted my blog to change. Before I did not know anything about revamping my blog. I did not understand coding or html and I had no idea what design I wanted. I loved my previous design, but I decided that I wanted a new look. I am surprised I could do this, because I really didn't have a lot of experience. I love this design so much! I think it's here to stay! The second thing is my blog name/ title. Life of a Jerseygirl is something I will cherish forever, but I needed something new. When I first started blogging I had no idea what I was doing, I guess that's why I am in this situation! As I am 2 years older, for me Life of a Jerseygirl means that I am sharing my life as a Jerseygirl. There are a lot of Jersey girls out there and I feel now I would not stand out. Plus I feel like the Life of a Jerseygirl sounds like I am showing what life is like as a Jerseygirl....

  This post is going to be a short one today. I decided to write this because I thought it might help bloggers (beauty, life, and fashion). I even want to help YouTubers.  I decided to do a Share the love post. The blogging and YouTube world are big, so there are a lot people that might feel they are not noticed or their overlooked. I know I have felt that way sometimes. So with this share the love post, I want everyone to share their links with me and other people. I believe everyone deserves a chance. The whole purpose of this post is for everyone to meet new bloggers, new YouTubers, and have the opportunity to checkout their blog or channel. The blogging community is great, but sometimes a lot of blogs and channels get over looked. So if you have a blog or channel leave your links down below. I love supporting others, everyone deserves the chance to be seen.  *Checkout each others blog or channel. You never know, you might have somethin...

What have you learned from your blogging experience? I have learned so much from blogging, but these are the 4 most important things .  1. Patience -Things do not happen overnight. This is one thing I had to learn the hard way. To be honest I am still struggling. But I am learning that I will get to where I want to be as long as I keep working hard. 2. Be yourself - If you do not learn anything from blogging, remember that being yourself is most important. If you can't be yourself, then what's the point. I understand if you may feel intimidated or scared. Sometimes if someone feels that way, they put on an act and pretend to be someone else. I am here to tell you it's ok to have those feelings. It's also ok to be yourself. Everyone is different and to me that's the best thing about blogging. We are all unique, because every blogger is different. Different posts, different styles, likes and dislikes. 3. Blogging does not have to be boring -Blogging ca...

  I've been blogging for 2 years now and I really enjoy it. I will admit that I have not been the most consistent blogger, but changes like setbacks and loss made me feel sad and discouraged. I'll admit I have  given up sometimes. But during the times where I've given up or took a break, or when my 1st computer broke I had a lot time to reflect and think. So I decided to set goals for myself as a blogger. So here is my list! 1. Never give up! The world of blogging is hard, but if I stop every time I'm discouraged I'm not going to get where I want to. 2. Blog more frequently. I like blogging, because I get to share the things I like with you all. I will admit I get lazy with blogging. I am still trying to work on it.  3. Schedule posts. Now this is the easiest goal. All I have to do it set a time and day! 4. Write a lot of posts in advance. I am working on this goal right now. Hopefully I can stick to this goal. As of now I have publish...

Two years ago on October 19, when I started blogging I had no idea what I was doing. To be honest sometimes I still feel like I don't know. I have learned so much from this experience good and even bad. I've met so many wonderful bloggers and I've become friends with them too! I wanted to make YouTube videos, like any other girl. My first makeup inspiration was Dulce Candy from DulceCandy87 , she taught me how to put on eye makeup for beginners! Her channel really made me feel confident! I had been watching videos for a couple of years, so I thought it would be a good idea. But it was more difficult then I thought it would be. In the end I realized making videos was apparently not for me. Even though I was inspired by these videos, creating one myself was not something I could do. I was nervous and scared. But in the process of my decision I ended up making good friends. Some I still talk to often and others I have unfortunately lost touch with. We were real...

  I have not blogged since the beginning of July. I would say that's embarrassing, but I needed a break and I needed time to grow. Not to sound cliche, but it's true. Blogging is a hobby that I want to take seriously, this is something I like to do. During my break from blogging I had a lot of time to think about where I want my blog to go. I mean it's been almost 2 years since I started blogging.   I blog about beauty and lifestyle related things. But I want to expand my creativity! I have so many topics to talk about, but would anyone be interested in reading? Let me know what you think. Would you be interested in "girl talk" posts or anything like relationships. Single life posts! Maybe if you want to read topics like this, give some suggestions!   I was also thinking about creating a hashtag for twitter! But I would not want to start this by myself. If anyone would be interested in this let me know. It does not have to be just two people, it can b...