Blogger Tips From Someone who Blogs: Best Blogging Sites!

From someone who not only reads blogs but keeps one up as well, I am constantly on the look out for the best websites to keep my blog up on (other then maybe having your own domain) because the worst thing in the world is having to try to make the best out of something you can't stand using because you can't find anything else. 

I have tried a decent amount of them, and I've come to conclusions about which ones are the most fun and efficient to use, for me any ways.  I'm making this today to help any one else that also seems to have the worst of luck finding something that fits well with them and their blog starting from the 

best-ish to the worst-ish. 

                                                                                                                

1. Blogspot

 I have had problems with Blogspot, it is not always the greatest thing ever but it is reliable and very customizable, along with that there aren't any hidden fees or anything and there are ways to make money off of your blog as well. The  only downsides I've seen are complications with coding when it comes to customization, it takes some time to get used to and figure out how to do those things but it is nothing a little problem-solving can't fix. 

2. Tumblr

The only reason this isn't number one is because it's more of a social media site than a blogging site, but I made one early today because it was the only think I hadn't tried but I constantly hear awesome things so I decided to try it out before I made this post and I love it. It's a little bit difficult to navigate right at first but once you get this gist of it, it is really easy and pretty fun. Above is mine and you can follow me on there as well as mssinkingship of course, I'll probably do a decent amount of blogging on there as well. It is pretty customizable and there is tons of things to work with, if you're looking for something not quite so serious for a blog this is definitely the first place you should try.

3. Wix

So I tried this site the other day and it is pretty interesting, there are quite a few downsides though and it ends up getting complicated. For one, there isn't a trash can so you are unable to get rid of anything that was on the original template you might not have wanted. Also, it does have an apps section where you can add all kinds of cool things to your blog, but a decent amount of them you have to pay for and if you are on a budget you can't always afford all of that. 

The only other downside is that for your domain name it gives you it lists their site before yours and that can seem less professional the other way around. Wix has some cool things to use like some of the templates they have and animation effects, things like that etc, but it the long run there is more hassle than anything else when it comes to this site.

4. Weebly

For those of you that have been reading my blog for it's pretty close to entirety, you will most likely know that it originally started out on Weebly. This site is perfect for a blog just starting out, if you just want to dip your toes into the whole thing, or if you're unsure you really want to commit to any type of thing that's this nature. It is fairly easy but really isn't all to customizable. Weekly isn't the worst but it really isn't something you would hold a blog at for a long period of time.

5. WordPress

I had always heard that if you want your blog to be successful use Wordpress, so eventually a few months ago I had been irritated with bloodspot and I thought it might be a good time to give it a try. I was so frustrated with all of it after the first 10 minutes I have never gone to the site again. I'm sure it's a lot easier and customizable if you buy the packages for your websites from them BUT not everyone (me included) has the money to drop $50 on a website so I can change the layout. That is ridiculous for one and two I've done decently well on Blogspot and never had to shell out large amounts of money to do so. I know people who use it and love it so this one is purely biased as most of these are but for someone who can't spend a bunch of money and want something to be even the slightest bit personal, I wouldn't use Wordpress. 

These are the blogs I've used and the major pros and cons I've had with them.  A lot of the factors in this has to do with customization because that is a big part of blogging and creating a brand for your self, I hope this gives any one who is thinking of starting a blog or wanting to switch from the site they use now.

Ready to Set Sail (and keep playing with my Tumblr),

                                               Ms. Sinking Ship

Mini March Mood Board,

The month of March is odd, it's the transition month between winter and spring, so everything about March could be unexpected. It leaves the feeling of risks and wanting to take chances. It also means ELLEs spring fashion magazine, which is exciting and inspiring. My mood board as of this moment for March isn't large, but it might grow. At the moment it's just inspiration and the beginning of a little expectation. Just the way March isn't.

1st: I have my ELLE magazine. This is by far my favorite issue probably every year. The ads are always creative and give me ideas for color schemes or things to try and create based off of trends I notice; and the articles are a little bit more drastic than the ones written the rest of the year, which entertain me. As you can see I'm already beginning to go through it and tag my favorite articles and ads I've found so far, but I'm barely have way through the book so there is definitely more to come. 

This leads me to my second item,

2nd: Flag like sticky notes. I recently received this on an issue of Mollie Makes. I have a thing for sticky notes, I don't know why, but I have to tag and write about everything so they come in handy when I don't want to write or dog tag on the pages. These though, I am enjoy particulary well. The shape is more convient than the average square and it makes my tags look nice while still having enough room to make little notes on them. 

3rd: My labels. I use these as an expectation and a goal almost to help me keep creating. There are so many I have yet to use and that makes me want to create more. This month I'm determined to work on them and use as many of my labels as possible.

4th: My new Snake arm band, I have an odd love for snakes and I plan on getting one in the distant future when I'm more settled. I also enjoy little pieces of jewelry like this even though I don't wear a lot of it when I do I like to express an odd sides of me that aren't normally shown.
5th: My Pierce The Veil wrist band, Pierce the Veil is probably one of my favorite bands and I get to see them again this month which makes me incredibly excited and pumped. Their shows are always exciting and inspiring, making it an entire month joy anytime there near my town.
And last my
 6th item: The iPad mini I have shown. This is probably more of a life line than my phone. I do a large amount of work from my iPad, gathering ideas, researching, drawing, reading, writing, editing photos, I do all of it on my iPad, so it's shown because it is like my left leg most of the time and so it could a mood board probably dedicated all to itself.

Just a heads up. With all of this,  I am already working on and conjuring up a few more blogs that you all will enjoy that will be released later this week. I usually do not add things like this unless it's an update but since it has to do with items on my mood board why not keep you in the loop?
I'm ready to set sail (and continue into the month of march),
                                                      Ms. Sinking Ship

5 reads for the first Friday: January 2015

The year is starting and that means a fresh slate for any adventure you want to take on, for those adventures I have picked my 5 reads that I am currently reading or have read hat will help you in any incredible journey you want to take on for this new year. They are not in any specific order, other than alphabetical of course.   

1. Handmade to Sell by Hello Craft's Kelly Rand, Christine Ernest, Sara Dick and Kimberly Dorn
    ( hellocraft.com)

At the moment I am a quarter of the way through this book officially, I few months ago I found this book on a shelf  in a Barnes and Noble and fell in love the second I began reading, I quickly found a spot on the floor in-between two shelves to read to my hearts contempt, sadly at the time,  I had only gotten half way through and had to leave without the book being to broke to afford the book; but the book found its way back to me in a package clothing box Christmas Eve. and I have been reading it since. This book is written for people looking to start their own businesses in the craft industry, it is fully of hardy and helpful advice on how to get started and set up a proper foundation to built your business on along with tools for working at craft shows, and presenting your self online. If you are looking to go further with you craft this year I would suggest reading this book before and during the process of growing your craft into a business.

2. Hello Giggles (hellogiggles.com)

Hello Giggles popped up on my newsfeed about a year ago and it seems like the articles were better and better with every post I read, the stories are impacting and hilarious. They are all very pro-women and know exactly what to say when it needs to be said. They report on everything from news to your daily life and all of the articles written leave some kind of mark on you or will enlighten you on something that is going on in the world. On top of that, you as the reader can submit stories that they'll post to the public from the public. To them your opinion matters, so not only will they inform you they'll listen to you too. This year if you need empowerment for your journey or you want to be heard look to Hello Giggles before anywhere else because they always have something to say.

3. Mollie Makes Mag. (Molliemakes.com)

I first found Mollie Makes US Edition in a Walmart around 2 in the morning back in August. I read it all through the store, then bought it, took it home, and read it again when I woke up the next day, after that I looked into the magazine and found the original Mollie Makes along with a few others. Sadly, the US edition is no longer in print, but Mollie Makes is still going strong leaving me excited every month to see what they talk about next. This magazine will inspire any crafter (or anyone honestly) to make, create, travel and explore to their hearts desire. They write articles on everything a crafter might need to know for business, on keeping up with fashion, or on just another crafter it would be fun to look into. Mollie Makes has created the base for an incredible community all over the world, if you ever get the chance this year, just reading one issue will take you on an interesting journey with plenty of patterns and pictures along the way.

4. Nylon Mag. (Nylon.com)

I don't exactly know when or how I found Nylon but I have been reading them consistently for about two years now. They are on here for any adventure you have in fashion, beauty, scrapbooking or art wise. 'Scraping-booking you say? That doesn't fit in with the rest' is most likely what you were thinking and  I know.  The lay out of Nylon is something that makes them so great all in itself, it is put together almost as if it's an artists inspiration book or something, giving it a very edgy but also home-like feel to it every time you look through an issue. It is also a go-to guide for every trend or idea that comes with fashion there is, and on top of that it has awesome articles about a variety of artists and up-and-coming music to give your creative side a different outlook on things. This year if you're looking for ideas on a new direction or maybe just a little change to spice your life up, reading, if only, one issue of Nylon will do the trick.

4. Rookie Mag. or Yearbook 1 and 2  (http://www.rookiemag.com)

I found Rookies second yearbook in a very similar way to how I found 'Handmade to Sell'. The only difference in the story is that this time I finished the book, I sat out in the isle, and when I left I bought the second yearbook along with the first one as soon as I got home. Rookie is laid out similarly to Nylon in a very cute scrapbook type way but, it is also a little different from the rest of the books on this list, Rookie is created as a teenage and young women magazine. Unlike most other magazines for that specific age group though, rookies stories aren't based on how to make a guy love you in a month or filled with 'how to look skinnier with these special tricks' articles. Rookie is created to empower with pro-women articles, interviews with real people, and some awesome snacks recipes for when you get the munchies. Rookie also uses all kinds of girls of all kinds of ages for all of their photo articles. They are a good read for almost any situation and unlike most magazines they are primarily online and post articles daily like a blog, at the end of their year (which is in may) they put together all of the articles and issues and publish them as yearbook, so you can find them in stores as well if you perfer the paper feel of book and they just released their third yearbook if you looking for a book to last you year round. 

I hope you find something intriguing in at least one of these books this year, 

Ready to set sail (and get back to reading), 

                                               Ms. Sinking Ship

A Thankful Woman Crush Wednesday 11. 26.14,

This Weeks Woman Crush Wednesday is dedicated to special people in our lives we are thankful for, since tomorrow is thanksgiving, I've decided that a special WCW is in order. I want to see all of the women in all of your lives that you are thankful for, so instead of posting a blog about one woman today you can send pictures and short notes to me, all tonight and tomorrow, of the women of your lives you are thankful for and I will put all of the pictures and notes on the blog as they come tomorrow, I Can't wait to see all of the amazing women in everyones lives.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and get ready to set sail with me,

Ms. Sinking Ship

Woman Crush Wednesday 10.28.14,

      The woman we're crushing over this wednesday is Emma Watson. This year she became the UN Women Goodwill Ambassador at the age of 24. She is the first of the title and incredibly young to have such a title given to her, She has recently launched her campaign #heforshe and is creating a worldwide change when it comes to the meaning of what it is to be a feminist and who can be one. Watson has shown that in a world of inequality among the sexes that women have the power to make a change for the better, and that is what makes her such an outstanding woman and role model. She has conquered many feats in her life span so far and is on her way to conquer many more.
       As a special honoring for Watson (and due to a small case of writers block) this piece was cowritten by Chase Maudlin.
                    Ready to set sail (and see what she comes up with next),
                                                                                      Ms. Sinking Ship

The best way to find things,

As a creative person, I often go looking for things : inspirations, marketing tips, learning how to do things and so on. People will always tell you to go to youtube that's the one place you'll always find things, I disagree. Youtube is great for many things but, finding exactly what you need in a timely manner not always so much. I've found that the best place to find things for a creative mind is Pinterest, it identifies key words, almost always has multiple options for what you are looking and 95 percent of it is more reliable that gritty video you've spent 10 minutes trying to watch because you couldn't find the better version (because it has give you the best youtube version there). Youtube is definitely a great source and a last resource go to for everything but always try Pinterest first, it saves time and frustration, which if you are like me could use a lot less of.
                     Ready to set sail (and help you save those 10 minutes),
                                                                      Ms. Sinking Ship

Into the fashion glass

First off don't judge my title.. I'm working on it. Second of all, this might not stay up any ways, I'm indecisive if I want this to be the first fashion post or not. I'm very intrigued (overly obsessed if you've seen my fashion pinterest board) with things like pastel goth and grunge. My outfit was inspired by that and my love for Alice in Wonderland. I wore a Disney Alice in Wonderland sweater and Disney Alice in wonderland tights, in between those I wore a longish black circle skirt at my waist. I found this outfit to unexpectedly comfortable and was fun to wear as well. 

Ready to set sail (and fall into a rabbit hole), Ms. Sinking Ship