Nikoleta Ljuljdjuraj: January 2017

How To Get Ready Quickly

By Nikoleta Ljuljdjuraj - 6:36 PM

If you're like me, morning rituals may consist of only a couple of minutes to try and look the best as possible. With time, I've mastered the techniques of getting ready as quickly as possible, because thanks to college days I had to do so. When it comes to a quickly morning routine it's not only about what products I use to trim the time but how I plan ahead in case I oversleep, and let's be honest that happens to all of us, well at least to me, having long study nights...

STICK TO THE USUAL

The worst thing you could do is to try a new look that you never wear or products that you've never used before, trust me, that happen to me like a hundred of times, but NOW I know the drill. I always play safe and wear as little makeup as I can. I only use the products that I know for sure will make me look good in the areas I need it. To me, these products are a good concealer, a bit of blush, mascara, and lipstick.

THE EVERY-DAY JEANS & TOP

As much as I would love to be like those awesome bloggers, mornings don't aspire me to be one, honestly. I am not a morning person and when it comes to clothes, I'm still a mess. Luckily, most of my pieces that I wear for college are monochromatic, plain, and matching, all I have to do is grab my favorite Black Zara Jeans and any top that I reach out to first, white or gray, my favorite colors.

BREAKFAST FIRST

Makeup routine, this is where most of our time goes in the morning, even if I only wear like two or three products. I've been really committed to not leave the house without having breakfast and it actually makes the whole day better for me. It makes such a big difference, and you are more awake, your day starts great when you don't have an empty tummy. I'll never prepare something the night before because I never manage to do that, instead, I go for quick and easy things that I can eat while doing my makeup, like a smoothie. I only pour some Almond & Coconut milk, with one banana, and I also add a bit of muesli, it's so yummy. You should definitely try this recipe, it's simple and quickly recipe in the morning.

OTHER TIPS

Hm, what about a shower? I always take a shower the night before and wash my hair very often. If I *really* don't have time for that, I'll just wash my body and use dry shampoo. In case you have to look extra fancy, which happens to me many times, I have to attend presentations in college. I always wear any kind of high heels and a bold lipstick. The two will instantly make a statement to let you keep the rest of your outfit/makeup simple without being worried and late.

What are your tips for getting ready in minutes?

Nikoleta Lj, xoxo.

0 Comments

Anastasia Beverly Hills

Anastasia Beverly Hills 'Modern Renaissance Palette' Review

By Nikoleta Ljuljdjuraj - 2:13 PM

A week ago my sister came from her holidays, she was in New York, USA and as my other sisters live there as well, they surprised me with this beautiful palette from Anastasia Beverly Hills MODERN RENAISSANCE PALETTE.

This winter I was searching to find a new eyeshadow palette, I watched like a hundred Youtube videos to get some recommendations. The number one most raved about palette was definitely the Anastasia Beverly Hills 'Modern Renaissance Palette. I have lots of thoughts about this palette, so I hope that you can find my opinions helpful if you are considering this eyeshadow palette. That's why I wanted to write a review about this gorgeous palette and give you my first impressions.

I have now been trying out the ‘Modern Renaissance’ palette for a week now, and even in that short amount of time, I can honestly say that I am obsessed. It has the most beautiful varieties of warm shades. I love how there are a ton of everyday neutrals, but there are also a handful of fun colors that are still incredibly wearable and on trend. I also find that this eyeshadow palette looks beautiful on all eye colors and all skin tones. The Modern Renaissance palette has definitely re-sparked my love for makeup, and it’s really encouraged me to be a little mroe creative. I can’t imagine myself getting bored of this palette, and I am constantly discovering new color combinations. It has shades like 'Tempera' and 'Golden Ochre' that are perfect for a daily basis. However, with shades like 'Venetian Red' and 'Love Letter', you can totally make some really unique, glam looks for a night out. Soon I'll be doing a Makeup Look with this palette and I'll film a tutorial for my Youtube channel.

This is definitely a palette I would repurchase in the future. I purchased their Contour Cream Kit in the shade Light, and I've been using it to do my contour and highlight. So far I must say I am very satisfied with it and it was worth the price I bought. The shadows are very pigmented, smooth, and easy to apply and blend. This was my first time trying any Anastasia Beverly Hills eyeshadows, but I have to admit I am a huge fan now. An additional thing I really like about this ABH palette is the brush that comes in the palette. Most of the time, every brush that comes in a palette, they tend to be cheap and unusable.

However, I actually really love the brush that comes with the palette, and I’ve been using it every single time. Though I absolutely love this palette, there are a few cons for me. One con is definitely the price. Another con is the packaging, though the palette packaging is a beautiful pale pink, it does get incredibly dirty due to the material on the front of the palette.

All in all, I love this palette! This is a palette I would 100% recommend, especially if you are looking for a unique palette that has a variety of versatile nudes and wearable pops of color. It’s by far my favorite makeup palette that I own.

If you’ve tried the Modern Renaissance palette, let me know what you thought about it? Also, let me know your favorite eyeshadow palettes at the moment?

Nikoleta Lj, xoxo.

0 Comments

Blogger

My Dream Makeup Vanity

By Nikoleta Ljuljdjuraj - 10:59 AM

0 Comments

7 Ways to Increase Your Blog Traffic

By Nikoleta Ljuljdjuraj - 10:30 AM

To be a blogger and do blogging isn’t as easy as people think. You write a post and hit “publish”- but after you’ve published your content you also need to get people to read it and of course help them in any kind of way.

When I first started this blog I would publish my posts and that would be it. I had no idea how to grow my audience. I just hoped that eventually, my potential readers would just “find” me.

In today’s post, I’m sharing a few ways that have helped in a way to increase my audience.

POST MORE FREQUENTLY

This is my number #1! I noticed that my traffic started to grow substantially once I started posting more frequently. If YOU write more that will not only keep your readers coming back, but it’s also great for bringing organic search traffic to your blog- Google gives higher priority to websites with new and fresh content.

With that being said always go with quality over quantity. Don’t post crappy content, for the sake of posting. It all depends on the type of content you create. I know some of my favorite bloggers post only once in a month, but when they do the audience simply loves it.

WRITE SHAREABLE CONTENT
Pinterest and Facebook send me a ton of traffic. Pinterest alone refers tens of thousands of new visitors to my blog, on weekly basis.

So what does “shareable content” mean? It means creating content that is somehow helpful to your readers. If they find it helpful or useful in some way, they’re much more likely to share it with others, pin it for future reference or bookmark it. Analyze your posts, see which ones get the most hits, what are some things you often get asked about? What are your strengths? Focus on that. You also need to make sure that your content can be easily shared with others- installing “share” buttons like Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook are crucial.

CONNECT WITH OTHER BLOGGERS

As your audience grows, responding to each and every comment can be a bit overwhelming. Nowadays, it usually takes me a few days to catch up with comments on my blog but interacting with other bloggers and readers is what makes blogging so special. It lets you build a relationship with your audience and grow your blog’s community. Commenting is not just about “plugging in” your blog link- they should always be meaningful and bring some value to the conversation. Getting a ton of traffic is great, but engagement is worth a lot more.

BLOG DESIGN

Your blog design should be easy to navigate. When I visit a blog for the first time, one of the first things I want to know is the blogger’s name- so make sure that it’s visible somewhere right away. If you have several categories on your blog, make sure that it’s easy to navigate and search through those as well. If you want people to comment, you also have to make it easy for them to do. Last year I switched from Blogger to Disqus and I love it. I’m getting a lot fewer spam comments and don’t have to moderate them anymore- which saves me a ton of time.

PROMOTE OLD POSTS

Don’t let all that great content get buried! Reference your older content whenever it’s appropriate, always link within your posts. Re-share it on Pinterest, Facebook. Some of the most popular posts on my blog, are ones that I’ve published years ago. They still continue to bring me traffic, on regular basis.

BE CONSISTENT

Be consistent and stay patient. Most of the emails I receive say “I’ve been blogging for x amount of time, but it seems like no one’s reading my blog. What am I doing wrong?” Truth is, growing your blog is a lot of work, but one thing that will definitely help you is being consistent- with your content, images, posting schedule. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try new things it means that you should pay attention to things like your analytics. Which posts are most popular? What type of content does your audience seem to enjoy the most? Whatever you blog is about, make sure it’s something you love, otherwise, you’ll get bored easily.

Bottom line is, blogging is a lot of work. If you want to expand and grow your blog, you have to put in the work. This doesn’t mean that you have to spend every single free minute you have working- if you’re smart enough you can have a blog, a job, AND a life.

What are some of your favorite ways to grow traffic and promote content? I’d love to share them with me!

Nikoleta Lj, xoxo.

0 Comments

Blogger

How To Unwind and Recharge This Weekend

By Nikoleta Ljuljdjuraj - 3:11 PM

When the weekend comes, it’s time to step up your self-care game. Because if you’re anything like me, you’ll soon be doing many things like; cleaning, food shopping, running around to see if everything is in order, cooking, calling everyone in the family because since I study in Dubrovnik, it's the perfect time to hear from them, scheduling things and probably stressing a little too much.

So, this weekend, take a little time for yourself. Even if it’s just, fifteen minutes you spend by yourself, enjoying a cup of our favorite tea or coffee mine is the (Turkish coffee) by far my favorite one and for the Balkan people too, well many of them. Now is your time to unwind and recharge before the week begins.

STEP AWAY FROM THE DIGITAL WORLD

First thing first, well this one is tough to do because we’re surrounded by technology- which means it is very important to do, once in a while. I remember during the holiday break in my house we lost power. For the first time, I was happy about it because all of my siblings weren't in their phones and finally we could spend some time together. We burned some candles and put the fireplace on, we bundled up and played Monopoly and Scrabble all night long. No phones, no TV, no computers, no tablets. We had so much fun. I know it’s a strange thing to say, but I almost felt slightly disappointed when the power finally came back on.

Even if it’s something as simple as playing basketball in the park for twenty minutes and leaving your phone at home, or going for a walk- it’s so important to take that time to disconnect. You’d be surprised at how good it can feel.

EAT SOME GOOD FOOD

No, I don’t mean visiting your favorite place to eat. I mean getting in the kitchen and cooking a delicious meal for one. Or two, or three. Grab your friends and cook together, discover new recipes and enjoy it. This winter my sister and I, we got together so that I can teach her and she can teach me as well, to cook some of my favorite recipes. It’s a great way to share some laughs and spend some quality time together.

COZY UP

I have this ritual that I do when I have a bad day, and it’s a great way to unwind during your weekends, too. If I’m feeling stressed out or had a particularly tough day at college, I throw my favorite PJs in the dryer so they’re nice and warm, burn my favorite candle, put on a few episodes of my favorite series Suits and just cuddle up on the couch for a while. I love working, I love staying busy, whether it be writing a brief or cleaning the house. I can’t stand being still when I know I could be getting something done. It’s almost as if I sometimes feel like I don’t deserve to slow down or take a midday nap on a Saturday. I did notice, though, that once you start being kind to yourself, and allow yourself to nap, or to indulge a little when you’re feeling down, it helps you get out of that funk, faster.

GUIDED MEDITATION

If you’ve never tried meditating, guided meditation is a great place to start. While doing things like having a mini movie marathon or reading a book is a great way to relax, meditation is the ultimate tool that will help you calm your nerves and gently ease into deep relaxation. You can find a ton of great guided meditations on YouTube– they work best when you listen to them through headphones. I do these often since I suffer from anxiety and it keeps me calm and it's very helpful.

MOVE

When was the last time you put on some music and danced around the house until you were out of breath? When was the last time you went for a run or jumped on your bed like you did when you were a little kid? Just go along with it and have fun, turn yourself into a child and get the stress all out of your body.

How are you planning to unwind this weekend?

Nikoleta Lj, xoxo.

0 Comments

BloggerLife

7 Things to do When You Feel Stuck

By Nikoleta Ljuljdjuraj - 1:05 PM

95% of the time, writing, and photography come easily to me. The other 5% of the time I can spend hours working on a blog post and not get anywhere. I can know exactly what I want to write about, but once sit down with my laptop, the words just don’t seem to come as easily as they usually do. Feeling stuck it's the worst feeling, let's be real. It’s even worse when you feel like you DO want to get something done and can’t stand being still or unproductive, but you don’t seem to get anywhere. I know that I’m not the only one who experiences this once in a while. I think it’s just a part of having a creative outlet. You count on that creativity and inspiration to always be there, but the truth is, you can’t.

So how overcome this feeling stuck?

TAKE A BREAK

This is the first thing I do when I start feeling that creative block is coming. Sometimes this is all you need. Step away from what you’re doing; whether it’d be writing. Put some distance between yourself and the thing/s that you’re working on and do something else, something that has nothing to do with blogging.

TRY SOMETHING NEW

Don’t be afraid to write about something different from what you usually do. What are some of your other interests? I originally started as a beauty blogger. I really wanted to start writing about things like blogging, or wellness, share some of my personal struggles (like anxiety) and how I overcame them. BUT, I was SO afraid. I’d think to myself “what makes me an expert?”. Well, when I started writing about those things, in addition to beauty.

See, until you try something new, something different, you won’t know whether or not it’d work for you. So, you either succeed at something, or you’ll fail but you’ll learn a lesson.

WORK ON YOUR DESIGN (OR SOMETHING ELSE)

When you don’t feel like writing, work on a different aspect of your blog. Update your social media profiles, make sure all of your links work (especially in Disqus- I come across broken blog links in my comments all the time, therefore, I can’t visit your blog!). Improve your blog design, update your “about” page. There is still plenty to do around your blog, even when you can’t get yourself to write.

RE-PURPOSE + MAXIMIZE YOUR OLD CONTENT

Chances are, your audience is larger than it was a year or two ago. Go through some of your old articles and see if there’s anything that you loved working on, but didn’t get the attention it deserved. Edit it, update it, add some links and re-publish it.

Another way to maximize your content is going through your old posts and updating them by changing featured images, adding a Pinterest-friendly image and re-sharing it on social media. This is a great way to make your content work for you and you can bring traffic to your blog, without having to write anything new.

READ

This is a great way to find some inspiration. Read a book, a new blog, a magazine; read everything that you can get your hands on. Reading will not only help you find inspiration or create ideas, but it’ll also make you a better writer. You cannot expect to be a good writer and write great posts if you don’t read.

CHANGE YOUR ENVIRONMENT

If you always do your blog work in the same spot, try to switch things up. You can try going to a different room, or you can go to a cafe, or a park if it’s warm enough. During spring, I love grabbing my laptop, sitting in my yard and writing. I think that some of my best posts were written from my favorite spot in my yard. It’s a completely different experience than writing when sitting at my desk. I can smell the fresh air, feel the sun on my skin, hear the birds chirping. It’s really great to switch it up once in a while.

SPEND SOME TIME OUTDOORS

Nowadays, there’s a pill for everything. Feeling tired, feeling slightly nervous, upset, sleepless. Well here’s something that can make you feel better when you feel stuck and/or overwhelmed: breathing. Go outside, close your eyes and take a deep breath through your nose, while counting to four, then exhale through your mouth, while counting to four.

Fresh air and spending time in nature can work like a mini getaway. We’re constantly connected. Constantly surrounded by noise; from our phones going off, TVs, computers, laptops, radio. But when you go for a walk in a forest, or go for a run in the park and take in all of your surroundings, hear the wind, feel the sun and the air- you become more still. As you tune out all that noise that accompanies you pretty much 24/7, you get clarity. That can be all you need to get past feeling stuck.

Do you recommend any other tips when you feel stuck?

Nikoleta Lj, xoxo.

0 Comments

Blogger

Easy Ways To Simplify Your Life

By Nikoleta Ljuljdjuraj - 2:42 PM

How often do you find yourself feeling overwhelmed? Sometimes, I feel like I have at least a hundred things going on. College, family, my social life, my daily responsibilities, goals, blogging- it’s easy to start feeling like there aren’t enough hours in the day to do it all. Each day I have at least 10 emails to reply to, laundry to do and not to forget blog posts to write. It’s easy to start feeling overwhelmed.

I considered myself a very organized person, but still, I can't get all of these things in time. I do love to clean, de-clutter and organize because then I get that out of my chest, and I enjoy my time just then when I have everything in place. I just have too much stuff and sometimes try to do too many things at once, which let's be realistic no one can do that. It can sometimes feel like we overcomplicate our lives ourselves, although not necessarily it's our purpose.

Here are some tips that I do each time when I feel overwhelmed and I need to get things done.

CLEAN AS YOU GO

What I do each time is I wash your mug right after I finish my coffee- don’t let the dishes pile up. Do your bed right after you get up in the morning. Open the email as soon as you get home. If you do these things “as you go” you will notice that you won’t have to spend a lot of time constantly cleaning. All of these things are simple and only take up a few minutes of your time.

RE-EVALUATE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS

Don’t waste your time for people who aren’t good for you. Don’t be afraid to cut ties if you feel that the relationship is toxic and it doesn't do any good for yourself. Your time is precious, make sure to spend it with people you care about, people who make you feel good about yourself. At the end of the day who is true to you is all that matters.

DE-CLUTTER

Get rid of old things like clothes, dishes, electronics, magazines, furniture you no longer need- donate what you can. Too many material possessions sitting around can make you feel drained and they often complicate things and take your attention away from the things that matter.

UNSUBSCRIBE

I have this thing that I immediately subscribe to blogs and websites if I happen to like them at a first sight. The truth is, there are very few of those newsletter emails that I actually read. I recently unsubscribed from a whole bunch of them and now my inbox is much neater and a lot pleasant to browse through.

WRITE DOWN YOUR GOALS

I’m talking about both small daily goals like getting your workout in, finishing reading that book, organizing your makeup, etc. and life goals. Write them down go through them and pick the ones you feel are most important to you. By reducing the number of your goals you’re increasing your focus and you’ll be more likely to succeed.

CREATE A MORNING ROUTINE

This can be life-changing, at least for me it is. If you find yourself rushing out the door every morning, being in a hurry, getting an early start can give you more time to do things like sitting down and writing down your to-do list, preparing lunch and getting ready for the day, doing your makeup on time, and releasing that stress that you need to rush.

SAY NO

Don’t feel obligated to say “yes” to things you don’t feel like doing. Don’t feel the need to explain yourself- if you don’t want to do it, just say no. Nobody can be you, and that is your power, don't forget that.

STAY ORGANIZED

Have a place for everything, and put everything back where it belongs. This will make your life much easier and you won’t waste time looking for things because you don’t know where you put them.

Do you have any other ideas on how to simplify your life? Do you ever find yourself feeling overwhelmed?

Nikoleta Lj, xoxo.

0 Comments

2017

How to Make 2017 Your Best Year

By Nikoleta Ljuljdjuraj - 12:05 PM

First of all, I want you to ask - Do you believe in New Year’s resolutions?

I love to learn, I love to change, I love growing as a person and I have to say that I like self-actualization. However let’s do it this way, and call them “goals” instead of resolutions.

With 2017 there is the fresh energy and it is a great opportunity to make small or big changes in our lives.

BE PREPARED

Failure to prepare is preparing to fail. Start today. If one of your goals is to eat healthier, make sure that you get rid of any junk food you have sitting around. If you want to live a more positive, happy life, stop complaining TODAY. Make a list of the things you love, instead of complaining about the things you don’t have or don’t get to do. Whatever your goals are, make sure you have a plan, make sure you’re prepared, wake up early and get things done.

GET ORGANIZED

While the new year is the perfect time for a fresh start, the end of the year is a perfect time to get organized. Get rid of all the clutter and everything else that no longer serves you. Get rid of all the clothes that you no longer wear, donate whatever you can. Go through all of your handbags; throw away all those old receipts that found their way in and have been stuck in there for months. Do the same thing with your pantry, kitchen and your digital space. How much junk email are you getting at the moment? Unsubscribe from all services/websites you no longer use and visit, delete unused apps and old images you no longer need from your phone. De-clutter your life now, and set yourself up for success! It will feel so damn GOOD.

CREATE A VISION

Your goal can’t be just a desire that you really want. If you want to make any type of change, you need to define your goals. Every December I create a vision board for the new year to come so it helps me focus on what I actually want and need.I save my old magazines, I go through every single one of them, looking for pictures, quotes or text, articles that inspire me, I cut them out, I glue them to a white cardboard, and I hang it up in my bedroom. As I drink my tea every morning, as I get ready for the day and check my emails, one of the first things I do, is looking at my vision board. Every time I look at it, I feel inspired and motivated. It gives me that power to actually start and achieve what I want.

STAY PERSISTENT

Whatever it is that you’re after, whether it be a really small, or a drastic change, keep pushing and don’t give up. Don’t doubt yourself. Never, ever talk about the things you want to accomplish in a negative light. This is not only the biggest turnoff but it also sends out a message: “I don’t believe in myself.”

"You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it." - Maya Angelou

You may not have control over everything that happens to you, but you do have control over how you react to things that happen to you. This won’t always be easy. Sometimes very unfair things will happen to you. Sometimes you can find yourself feeling angry and frustrated. When things like these happen to you, you have two choices: you can let it get to you and keep the anger and frustration inside, or you can release it and try your best to find peace in those situations and move on. Make each day a happy one and be grateful for everything you have, because in the end that is all that it counts.

Do what fulfills you, follow your heart, your desires, your passion. We all have big dreams, but you can start with doing small things you love while chasing those big, beautiful dreams. Remember, that you were meant to have an amazing life, even if doesn’t always feel like it. Learn to forgive. Practice gratitude daily. Do the things you love. Stop worrying about what everyone else is doing. Don’t complain. Cherish the close people around you. Make mistakes. Learn. Dance. Smile. Listen to your heart and don’t take yourself too seriously. Spread your sparkle. Practice self-care, do small things for others, but also for yourself.

Above all those good things, stay focused, love yourself but remember to have fun along the way.

Nikoleta Lj, xoxo.