My Top 5 Must-Have Drugstore Products

I primarily shop in drugstores when it comes to make up. I stop at Walgreens to check out any new arrivals at least once a week (don't judge me) and I love seeing what new collections have dropped. 

The fact is, for most people out there, drugstore prices are about where the buck stops when it comes to buying beauty products. Anything more than $15 for a single item is absolutely out of my price range, as well as the price range of others. I might splurge for the occasional big ticket item, but that is very, very rare. 

I decided to put together a list of my absolute favorite drugstore beauty products. You don't have to be a beauty guru to use these products either--I like them because they are simple, they get the job done, and they don't break the bank. 

The Best Drugstore Loose Powders

1. Maybelline Fit Me! Light Finishing Powder, $7.99

I use a lot of powder on a daily basis, just to control my oily skin, and this is my absolute favorite finishing powder of all time. However, Maybelline is not a cruelty-free company, so keep that in mind. I keep using this product, however, because it is the only one that suits my skintone that I have been able to find. Here's what Maybelline has to say about this product: 

"Fit Me® Loose Finishing Powder is a mineral-based formula designed to help control shine and smooth skin’s texture with a hint of color."

Is this true? Absolutely. I use a tiny amount of this powder over my t-zone to help control shine and blur my pores just a little bit more. It does the job and adds a nice wash of color! My skin is quite pale, so I can look washed out really easily. This product weighs in at 20g, or about 0.7oz of product. For $7.99, that is a fair amount--and I can say that my first purchase of this product has lasted me over 3 months. 

2. elf HD Powder, $6

HD powder is often used as a setting powder, but it can often cause flashback, aka when you take a photo of your face with flash and you look super white. If you've ever seen photos of celebrities at awards shows where it looks like they have white powder all over their face, well, you know why now. 

However, I use HD powder a little differently: I use it before my foundation. 

HD powder absorbs oil, dries out your skin, and keeps your make up set. But using it on top can cause all kinds of problems. I learned from a few YouTube channels that you can use it beforehand if you're very, very oily and it sets your foundation better than a primer. Well, I've been sold ever since and the best powder I've ever used for this has been elf's HD Powder. For only $6, it's an absolute steal compared to other powders. One tub lasts me about a month (but I use quite a bit every day). 

The Best Drugstore Foundations

1. Maybelline Super Stay Foundation, $11.99

If you like full-coverage foundation, this one is for you. I originally saw this first on Alissa Ashley's YouTube channel (her video here). She loved the foundation, but she and I have both very different skin tones and very different skin types. That being said, I bought it a few days later. A tube has 1 fluid ounce, which is standard for most foundations. I've been using it at least twice a week since early February and my tube is halfway full. I estimate it would last around 2-4 months for the average user, especially if you extend it by mixing in luminizer or moisturizer for lighter coverage. 

2. Wet'n'Wild Cushion Foundation, $8.99

As you may remember from my Wet'n'Wild Photo Focus foundation review, I was not a huge fan. I didn't like the smell, the feel, or the look of that foundation. So when I saw thataylaa's video about the Wet'n'Wild Cushion Foundation, I was really intrigued and a little bit hesitant. However, when I spotted it at Walgreens the next day, I decided to take the plunge. I mean, why not? It's only $8.99. And guess what? I really love how this foundation looks. If you prefer lighter coverage and have dry skin, this is truly a perfect foundation for you; it's very dewy, very light, and looks really pretty on. There are certain times in my cycle where my skin gets quite dehydrated, so I end up reaching for foundations like this one. 

And despite how dark the tone looks on the packaging, the lightest shade is a perfect match for me. (For reference, I wear 44 light neutral in the Kat Von D Lock It foundation.) I personally don't use the provided sponge; my Beauty Blender applies is much faster! 

The Best Drugstore Eyeshadow

1. Wet'n'Wild eyeshadows

Whether it's the Wet'n'Wild Eyeshadow Quads or the 10 Pan Palettes, I'm not pulling your leg when I say that my Wet'n'Wild eyeshadows are my favorites. I especially like the eyeshadow quads because they are only $1.99. Seriously, $1.99. And the 10 Pan Palettes are only $4.99 each. $4.99! If you are looking for new shades of eyeshadow, they are the most affordable route and all of their foundations are really high quality, despite the price. I recently decided that I was done with warm-toned eyeshadows, so I "splurged" on several eyeshadow quads to test out some cool-toned colors. Absolutely worth it because it was less than $10 total! 

My Beauty Favorites: Highlights

When highlighting first emerged as a trend, I was rightfully reticent. After all, as an oily skinned person, I spent my entire teenage and adult life trying to look less shiny. So as matte-matte-matte skin disappeared and full-face glam became the norm, highlighting was a natural step forward. As makeup gurus contour their faces to perfection, highlighting is just a natural part of that. 

But still, it was a hard trend to hope on. I don't typically contour--and I definitely don't use cream contours. If I'm going out for the evening, I might use bronzer alongside blush, but that's about it. However, once I started using highlighter, I realized that I really, really like it... and that you don't necessarily have to do a full contour for it to look good. 

Highlighting brings attention, and dimension, to the high points of your face. Think your cheekbones, the tip of your nose, and your cupid's bow. By applying highlight to these places, you can make them more pronounced--and create cheekbones where you might not have great ones. I have a pretty round face with prominent, and full, cheeks, so highlighting my cheekbones is a daily must now. 

I narrowed down my highlighters to my four favorites. As a note, I definitely prefer a more subtle highlight--I don't like going crazy or playing with a lot of colors--but these are not the only highlights I use! 

1. Dirty Little Secret Baked Highlighter in Bellini

I received this highlight in last month's ipsy bag (review here) and, as I posted on Instagram recently, it's rapidly become my favorite highlight. It is a more cool-toned pale pink color and applies beautifully with a fan brush. It's pigmented enough that you could also use it as a blush or even an eyeshadow. For a daily, subtle glow, this one is perfect. (I'm also partial to the Bellisima color from DLS!) 

2. Ulta Beauty Duo Chrome Illuminator

I originally received this highlight from the 12 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar from Ulta. (You can read my full review here!) As I wrote then, I was unsure of what color this highlight actually was, as it's not labeled on the packaging. However, I think it is closest to either Mermaid or Fairy (although it looks like Fairy is no longer available). It is a duo chrome, which means it is not sparkly like some highlights, but shifts between white, pink, and lavender, with a hint of blue. It is absolutely not an everyday look, but for events, it can make a huge difference. 

3. Ulta Beauty Rainbow Highlighter

Rainbow highlights aren't everyone's cup of tea, but they sure are popular. There are rainbow highlighters available from not just Ulta Beauty, but tons of indie brands as well was Wet'n'Wild, TooFaced, Maybelline, Essence, and more. Again, this is not necessarily an everyday look, but can look great in photos or for more fun events. As well, you can use the separate rows on their own, or as eyeshadows. I personally love using the yellow and gold lines as solo highlights, as well as to highlight my inner corner. 

4. Ulta Beauty Liquid Illuminator in Northern Lights

Have you tried adding a few drops of liquid highlighter to your foundation? At first, I thought this did nothing... but let me say, once I started doing it, I was surprised at how it turned out! If you are looking for a lovely, subtle glowy look, add a few drops of this liquid illuminator (Northern Lights is a very light, pearly pink shade) to your foundation and it will change your entire look. 

My Beauty Favorites: Blushes

It feels like I didn't really start caring about blush until a few years ago. When I was in high school, I don't think anyone I know used blush. In the early 2000s, bronzer was a big deal; I remember my friends covering essentially their whole faces in bronzer. I never rocked that look (I'm way too pale), so I mostly just wore foundation, powder, and that was it. I took all the color out of my face with foundation... and didn't add any back in!  

The first blush I can remember buying, at least in the last 5 years, was Wet'n'Wild's Pearlescent Pearl (a very dead-on dupe for NARS Orgasm, if you're looking!) and while I love that blush, it's not one of my current favorites.

You see... blush is now one of my favorite items to buy, one of my favorite beauty items to put on, and something that I'm a little obsessed with. Most days, I wear foundation or concealer, powder, and blush, maybe some mascara if I'm feeling fancy. So most days, blush is the thing that really makes a huge difference in my look. 

So after a very taxing decision process, I picked out my top 3 favorite blushes. (And I'll also include my 2 favorite brushes for applying blush!) 

1. Pixi by Petra in Peach Honey

I received this blush in my first Ipsy bag and when I first reviewed it, I thought it was more of a highlighter than a blush. However, after applying it one day and getting to work, I realized the truth: my bathroom lighting just sucks! It's definitely a more subtle blush and being peachier than what I usually wear, it definitely falls into the category of being outside of my go-to. However, it has such a nice, natural effect that I think it's one of those blushes that looks good on everyone. 

2. Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Paaarty

I (and almost everyone else) received this blush in the 2017 Sephora birthday gift. (If you chose the skincare gift, don't worry, you can purchase it solo.) I love this blush, even though the name is actually one of the worst ever; I never remember the correct number of "a"s. It is a perfect pink color: very traditional, very cute, and very perfect on nearly every skintone. 

3. Ulta Beauty Blush in Rose

I debated including this blush, even though it is my current "I wear this every single day" color because, well, I couldn't find it on Ulta's website! The problem sometimes with free gifts is that they don't always have everything for sale. However, this is the same shade as the Ulta Beauty Blush in Sweet Pea here; so if you want to buy it, that's a great option. This shade is a dusty, slightly mauve-y pink. I wear mauve lips almost every single day, so if I'm going for a monochromatic look, this is what I reach for. It's super pigmented, super blendable, and absolutely lovely. 

Bonus: My Favorite Brushes

I used to use my fingers to apply blush, then I would sweep it out with my powder brush (yikes). Now, I have two dedicated blush brushes (three actually, but that's neither here nor there) that I love using, depending on the formula and look I'm going for. 

1. Crown C141 Small Chisel Brush: this brush is great for blushes that are a little less pigmented and you need to concentrate to a specific area. (I also love this brush for packing on mattifying powder!) I use it specifically with my Pixi by Petra blush. 

2. F.A.R.A.H. 30F: this brush is angled, so it gives you a great sweeping look. If you're using a highly pigmented blush, this is the one you want to go for; being softer and fluffier, it blends out blush much easier. 

Product Review: Photowall*

If you're like me, you have photos of just about everything. I have more photos of Forrest than I truly care to admit to (it's numbering in the 10,000 range, ok?) and I have a lot of them printed. I am a little obsessed with creating collages of all kinds. I love being able to see photos throughout my house; I think it makes a house feel really warm and lovely to have photos everywhere. Plus, I just like showing off our cute little family!

So when I was approached by Photowall to review a product from their website, I jumped at the chance. 

Photowall is a Swedish-run website that produces wallpaper and canvas prints. They have hundreds of designs available, plus you can upload your own photos and have a canvas printed with that photo! There are lots of websites that do this and I have used them before--but I'll be honest, Photowall is the highest quality canvas I've ever received!

It took me what felt like forever to choose an image for my canvas! I originally wanted to have a family portrait printed, but I couldn't decide on one, many of my photos (being from my iPhone) were just a bit too low resolution, and I really hemmed and hawed. Then I started browsing Photowall's catalogue of available prints and realized there were so many options! I almost got a floral design; I almost got a print of Portland, OR's skyline; and then, I found this one. 

It's a grove of aspens with yellow leaves. As we all are probably aware of at this point, I love Autumn--and I have a grey painted wall in my living room. I love grey and yellow together; my kitchen is grey and yellow themed. So it seemed perfect to get this canvas and do a little redesign in my living room. 

Ordering was super easy; you choose your print, or upload a photo, choose your sign, pay, and that's it! Shipping was super fast too. I ordered this on a weekend, I believe, and it arrived on the following Friday. 

When it arrived, my husband said, "this is way too small for a canvas!" That's because Photowall ships with everything for you to stretch your canvas yourself. You have a roll of canvas and a few pieces of wood for the frame, plus screws to secure it together and a hanger for mounting on the wall. Putting it together was super easy and the instructions were very clear. It was also really fun! 

In the future, I think I would go bigger; I got the smallest size canvas, as I just wasn't sure how it would look in the space (it's a little less than 16 inches). I definitely wish I had gone 24 inches or larger, I think it would work just as well! But I really love how it looks and I feel like I'm slowly but surely sprucing up our living room to look like grown ups (and not just a toddler) live here. 

If you'd like to try Photowall, just visit their website here and use my code MichelleLockeCampaign2018 for 20% off your order. My code is only available until the end of April, so order soon! 

*Disclaimer: As always, the asterisk (*) in the title of this post denotes that I received product from Photowall in exchange for a review. However, all thoughts and opinions remain my own. I really love Photowall and hope you will too! 

3 Things You Need to Know about Sulfate-Free Shampoo

I'll be totally honest: I've always been really disinterested in hair products. As someone who can buy 45 different versions of the same lipstick color (and argue with my husband to the death that they are actually very different colors, thank you very much), hair products are just beauty products that I feel I don't have space in my brain for. 

I've been pretty lucky to be blessed with hair that just kind of works. I have straight, really manageable hair. I could honestly wash it with dish soap and it would behave the exact same way. (And yes, I may have done this once or twice in college.) I don't heat treat my hair and I only dye my hair its natural shade to cover grays, so I don't experience a ton of damage to it. 

My hair, by nature, is very fine (though I have a lot of it, so my hair is also quite thick in terms of amount) and I've always been able to get away with washing it every 2-3 days before it looks bad. Unlike my face, I seemed to have a natural amount of oil on my scalp and it never bothered me. But about 4 months ago, I started really struggling with a dry scalp. 

I tried every tea tree oil shampoo I could find, convinced I wanted to go natural. When those did nothing, I switched to Head & Shoulders, angry that I had to go with an option that wasn't cruelty-free. And while Head & Shoulders made it marginally better, I still would get a dry, flaky, itchy scalp within a day of washing. I went to the dermatologist and was told I didn't have dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis; my scalp was just dry, so when my hair got even a little oily, the skin would lift. The dermatologist told me to just wash my hair every day. 

Which I did and it didn't really help. And my hair started getting quite limp from all the washing. 

While listening to a podcast recently, a guest mentioned that people with dry, flaky scalps should try going sulfate-free. I had tried a few sulfate-free shampoos and I wasn't totally impressed with them--but I was willing to give it a shot. Anything that allowed me to go more than 24 hours between washes without a flaky, itchy scalp! 

I started doing a lot of research on sulfate-free shampoos and came to conclusion that trying it would be absolutely worth it. I knew it might require me to stick with it for a while--not something I'm great at--but I really wanted to give it a try. 

All my research gave me the idea that I needed to share what I've learned about sulfate-free shampoos. 

1. Sulfates are what make shampoo sudsy--and they do not cause cancer. 

For the last few years, I've been seeing this scary meme floating around Facebook (especially in my mom groups) that sulfates in shampoo cause cancer. That's categorically false.

Sulfates are simply an ingredient in shampoo that makes it sudsy; they also are a type of surfacant, which means they attract oil and water to themselves. This allows oil and debris to be removed from your scalp--but it can also strip natural oils from your hair too, making it dry and brittle. If you struggle with a dry scalp or dry hair, you may be particularly sensitive to sulfates--and so switching to sulfate-free shampoo would be a good things to try. 

2. Sulfate-free shampoo makes hair color last longer. 

If you dye your hair, and notice that your color is fading quite quickly, switching to sulfate-free shampoo can make a major difference. I primarily used eSalon's shampoo for a long time--but as I started struggling with my dry scalp, I had to switch to harsher shampoos that I felt stripped my color. Since I've switched to the Kristen Ess sulfate-free shampoo, I've definitely noticed that my color is not fading nearly as fast. 

3. Going sulfate-free is most beneficial for certain hair types. 

There are some who will benefit from going sulfate-free and some who won't. If you have relatively easy hair, and a scalp that never gets itchy or too oily, then sulfates are the easiest way to clean your hair. Going sulfate-free means you spend a little bit more time manually cleaning your scalp. 

Those with dry and/or frizzy hair can benefit from sulfate-free shampoos, especially those that use coconut extracts instead of sulfates. As well, anyone who struggles with eczema or other skin conditions might benefit from going sulfate-free too, as it can help alleviate dry skin and itchiness. 

---

I'm two weeks into using Kristen Ess's The One Signature Shampoo; I'll update this blog post when I know exactly how it has helped my scalp. I've definitely seen a reduction in flakiness and I've been much less itchy since I started using it, but I want to give myself a little bit more time! 

Do you use sulfate-free shampoo? What's your favorite kind? Have you seen it help your scalp or hair? 

Beauty Review: My 3 Favorite Pacifica Items

I often get messages from my friends asking me the best drugstore products. Not everyone has the money to go to Sephora or even Ulta and splurge on the best skincare out there. For most people, that's not just out of their budget, but it's more time than they have to spend. Most of the people I know are working long hours, volunteering, taking care of kids or houses or both... they don't really have time to research skincare products, order from indie websites, or drive somewhere other than their usual grocery store. 

My recommendations are usually based on what I myself use... and one of my favorite brands out there right now is Pacifica. I've been seeing them at Target for a long time, but it wasn't until about 6 months ago that I started  buying from Pacifica. 

Here's why I love them: they are cruelty-free; they are affordable; and they have tons of options. Oh and their packaging is super cute. I thought I'd share my top 3 favorite items from Pacifica. All of these products are available at your local Target or Whole Foods. 

1. Kale Luxe Oil-Free Multi Cream

I recently ran out of this moisturizer and it was a really rough day! A tube lasted me about 3 months, which is pretty cost effective. (I'm using a sample tube of this Pacifica moisturizer right now; I'll write more once I know how my skin reacts to it!) I love this moisturizer because it's perfectly light and doesn't leave me feeling grimy afterwards (which is usually my issue with moisturizers). It also smells like kale, which makes me feel like it really does have a lot of kale in it! The smell is a little difficult to get over at first, but after a while I started to associate it with my evening routine. 

2. Sea Foam Complete Face Wash

I am a dedicated fan of the Body Shop's Tea Tree face wash; however, recently on vacation I forgot my travel size bottle of it and I bought this face wash at Target in a pinch. And honestly, I might have to make the switch or start using it half-time. Because I really love it! It smells like coconut and sea salt, it foams up so nice, and it leaves my skin feeling super soft. If you're acne prone and looking for a face wash that leaves you feeling refreshed and not at all dry, this is the perfect one. 

3. Rose + Tea Aromapower Mineral Bath Salts

As a bubble bath fiend, I've been trying to reduce my use of bath bombs; as much as I like them, they stain my tub! A friend got me these bath salts to try and honestly, I may never go back. The scent is super light, yet very girly and refreshing, without staining my tub or leaving me feeling like I was coated in glitter. These are the perfect relaxing treat at the end of the day! 

March 2018 Wrap Up

March has been an absolute whirlwind of a month. I'm still a little surprised to find myself at the very end of March, looking into April. Didn't March just start? 

It's often odd to me that the months I feel go by really fast are often months that weren't exactly bad, but weren't good either. March was a bit of a rough month for us, thanks to a general lack of sleep and a major change to our routine. 

Things I Learned

My favorite part about being a parent is when Forrest grows and learns new things. My least favorite part is the turmoil that those changes create sometimes. ⠀ •⠀ We had to update Forrest's crib to a toddler bed over the weekend. A step I wasn't fully prepared to take on, but considering Forrest climbed out of his crib, it was time. The past few days have been a learning experience when it comes to helping him better adjust to his new bed. It's meant a little less sleep than usual for me, for sure. ⠀ •⠀ But it's also so much fun to see Forrest love his bed and do well sleeping in it (and not waking me up at 3am). ⠀ •⠀ •⠀ •⠀ •⠀ #fashionblog #styleblogger #fblogger #instablogger #lifestyleblogger #instablog #bblogger #fiercesociety #bloggerlife #instamakeup #beautyproducts #bbloggers #thebloggershub #livethelittlethings #theeverygirl #darlingmovement #flashesofdelight #thehappynow #petitejoys

A post shared by Michelle 💐 (@michellelocke6) on Feb 28, 2018 at 6:44pm PST

I learned to not take advantage of good luck.

Forrest switched to a "big boy bed" at the very tail end of February. For the first week, he did really great... I thought things would be fine. However, he started really struggling to both go to sleep and stay asleep, two issues that we've never had with him. He's also started waking up at 3 or 4am and playing for hours, without making noise, until we wake up at 5 or 5:30 and see that he's out of bed! (Thankfully, he can't get out of his room.) 

This isn't something I would typically write a post about, but wow, it's been rough. You think that once you get through the newborn sleep problems and eventually talk yourself into sleep training that things will be fine. Forrest has been sleeping 12 hours a night straight, without fail, since he was 9 months old. Since then, we've never struggled with his sleep, so we've been a bit spoiled. I've been massively sleep-deprived the last few weeks, more than I have been in a while, and as a result, my tension headaches and migraines have been absolute killers. 

I'm hoping we're through the worst of it and have a good routine figured out. Otherwise, I'm going to just need a constant drip of coffee going. 

Things I Loved

Yesterday was Danny's birthday and, even better, I spotted my first bloomed daffodils. 🌾 Daffodils are my favorite flower and seeing them is always my sign that spring is coming and summer is not far behind. While they aren't my favorite seasons, I do look forward to a break from the rain and cold. ⠀ •⠀ •⠀ •⠀ •⠀ •⠀ #momlife #childhoodunplugged #letthembelittle #candidchildhood #momswithcameras #motherhoodthroughinstagram #uniteinmotherhood #boymom #sahm #momsofinstagram #momblogger #ontheblog #motherhoodrising #mompreneur ⠀ #pursuepretty #creativepreneur #momblogger #acolorstory #livethelittlethings #theeverygirl #darlingmovement #flashesofdelight #thehappynow #petitejoys #thebloggershub

A post shared by Michelle 💐 (@michellelocke6) on Mar 15, 2018 at 7:48pm PDT

Daffodils. IT'S HERE! Spring has arrived! Sort of. I took this photo halfway through the month. Last Friday, it snowed the entire day and through the night. On the first day of Danny's spring break! The daffodils that had bloomed are unfortunately now frozen, but at least I got a photo. 

Danny's birthday. Danny turned 29 on March 14; I've been 29 since October, so it was nice of him to catch up! He had a fun birthday (well, as fun as it can be when you're an adult working) and I treated him to a few new clothes, a new movie, and a cake. 

Do you use sulfate free shampoo? Have you noticed any benefits? I've been dealing with an itchy scalp for a few months now and I finally decided to bite the bullet and try going sulfate free. I picked out this shampoo from @kristen_ess and I'm hoping to see some results (or at least be somewhat less itchy). I'm curious to hear if anyone has had success with going sulfate free!⠀ •⠀ •⠀ •⠀ •⠀ •⠀ #fashionblog #styleblogger #fblogger #instablogger #lifestyleblogger #instablog #bblogger #fiercesociety #bloggerlife #instamakeup #beautyproducts #bbloggers #thebloggershub #livethelittlethings #theeverygirl #darlingmovement #flashesofdelight #thehappynow #petitejoys

A post shared by Michelle 💐 (@michellelocke6) on Mar 20, 2018 at 6:51pm PDT

Sulfate-free shampoo. I've been really struggling with an itchy scalp for a few months. I've tried a few things that work for a little while and then stop. Finally, I bit the bullet and invested (literally, this was $10 shampoo!) in some sulfate-free shampoo. Alongside using pure tea tree oil (diluted, of course), I've already noticed an improvement in my scalp. I'll write more on this later! 

My Favorite Content

• The Benefits of Formula Feeding
• My March Ipsy Bag
• 10 Habits I've Started to Reduce Anxiety
• 3 Accessories for Improving Your Photography

It's been 9 years since I started blogging. I started my first blog, Locked Out, in April 2009. Seriously. April 2009. I was 20 years old, a sophomore in college, and I had fallen in love with fashion blogs. It took off from there. I genuinely can't believe it's been 9 years of blogging: I remember when I first started my Instagram account (July 2011, 7 years ago!), when I first went viral (an experience I never want to relive), and everything else along the way. ⠀ •⠀ People always ask me what I've learned from blogging. The answer is so big! It's been a huge part of my life for a long time and it's hard to quantify down to just a few words. But I guess the biggest lesson is this: don't get comfortable; and do it because you enjoy it. I love blogging the way I do it: regimented, but with no expectations. It's just fun. It's not my career, that's for sure, but it helped to guide me towards what I want to do for a living. ⠀ •⠀ •⠀ •⠀ •⠀ •⠀ #momlife #childhoodunplugged #letthembelittle #candidchildhood #momswithcameras #motherhoodthroughinstagram #uniteinmotherhood #boymom #sahm #momsofinstagram #momblogger #ontheblog #motherhoodrising #mompreneur ⠀ #pursuepretty #creativepreneur #momblogger #acolorstory #livethelittlethings #theeverygirl #darlingmovement #flashesofdelight #thehappynow #petitejoys #thebloggershub

A post shared by Michelle 💐 (@michellelocke6) on Mar 8, 2018 at 11:31am PST

The best gift in the world is learning that no one, and I mean NO ONE, knows what they are doing at any point in time. Whether you become a mom at 16 or 36, there is no manual. Whether you go to college or work, there is no roadmap to where you need to be.

— michelle 👩🏻‍💻🎄 (@michellelocke_) March 19, 2018

Thanks for reading! Tell me: how was your March?

Here Are 5 Steps You Need To Know To Write Killer Blog Posts

Back when I started blogging, I really didn't pay attention to, well, anything when it came to my content. I wrote what I wanted. I used photos that didn't really go and weren't consistent sizes. When I was really into fashion blogging, the popular thing was to use song lyrics or quotes as the titles of your blog posts. It was so much fun trying to decide what to title my posts! 

These days, with the blogging world being what it is, it takes a bit more effort than that. Even if you're just blogging for a hobby, you want to do the best you can with what you have--ultimately, if you're blogging, you want readers! And the best way to attract readers is to write great content and then ensure that you hit every point to ensure that readers can find that content.

But how can you do that? If you're like me, you work a full-time job, or you're a mom; you don't have time to learn every SEO tactic or spend hours writing posts. Well, I have 5 steps for you to follow to ensure that you can write killer blog posts with the time you have. No messing around, no fussing, no spending hours deciding what to write. 

1. Take or find the perfect photo. 

Humans are naturally visual people. We like art. We like photos. So your blog post should start with not just a topic, but taking or finding a perfect photo. If I don't feel like taking photos, I use Unsplash to find a stock photo that fits my topic. Then, I use Canva to create blog graphics that are uniform and use the same fonts every time. (This is the simplest part of branding: ensuring that all your images and blog graphics have the same basic look that people can recognize and associate with you. It also makes your blog look cleaner!) 

2. Craft the perfect headline. 

Writing headlines (or titles) for my blog posts is one of my least favorite tasks. Most people struggle with it. In my career in content/digital marketing, almost everyone I know struggles to write headlines. It's a universal issue! There are so many rules about what headlines work and what headlines don't, especially for blog posts. Thankfully, I have some resources. 

Firstly, CoSchedule's Headline Analyzer is a free tool that anyone can use (they do ask you to sign up for their newsletter, but their newsletter is very informative!) It scores your headlines using a simple algorithm for successful headlines. Here are a few I wrote for this post. 

I usually like my headlines to score between 65 and 75. However, sometimes, if I am particularly tied to a title, I just ignore the score! However, using this analyzer is a great way to learn how to write headlines--so you can just go for it sometimes instead of hemming and hawing! 

Here's what the breakdown looks like. CoSchedule has a great breakdown on blog post types and examples of common, uncommon, emotional, and power words here. 

I usually write about 15-30 headlines for each blog post until I decide on the one. 

3. Outline your thoughts. 

Diving right into writing can seem like a good idea, but writing down an outline, even if it is just a rough sketch, will ensure that you stay on topic and don't get stuck halfway through writing. Even if you're not writing a blog post that features a list or steps, you can jot down all the points you want to cover. For this blog post, I wrote down the 5 steps I wanted to include, then started backwards from there to pick points for my introduction.  

4. Clean up your copy. 

I am a verbose person, so this is hard one for me: once you're done writing, go through your blog post and clean it up. Remove repetitive phrases. Shorten sentences. Move separate thoughts into separate paragraphs. This improves the readability of your post. (Most blog posts are skimmed anyway, so the faster you can convey your information, the better!) 

5. Check for places to link other blog posts. 

If you can link to other blog posts of yours (or your friends!), do it! It's worth taking a few extra minutes to add links and include a brief sentence as to why they should click over to that blog post. 

BONUS: 6. Share to Pinterest, Twitter, and Facebook. 

Alright, this isn't a step about writing, but it is about getting those all important readers. None of us like talking to thin air, that's for sure! I share my blog posts automatically via Squarespace with my chosen hashtags. I then make sure to pin daily to Pinterest, as well as to my group boards on Pinterest. If you use Facebook, share your post there too; Facebook is the number one website for referral traffic.