Tag: blogging

Welcome & Hi: Blogmas Intro

by Madison

Hi everyone! Welcome to Vogue & A Latte if it’s your first time and welcome back if it’s not. I am really excited about starting a new tradition called Blogmas. I am a big YouTube watcher (not maker, I am horrible at video editing. I wish it came naturally to me.) and my favorite YouTubers (Danielle Carolan, Brooke Miccio, Kenzie Elizabeth, Sierra Furtado, Morgan Yates, etc.) do this thing called Vlogmas each year where they post a video every single day up until Christmas. This must take a LOT of work for them, yet I am so intrigued by it and wanted to put my own twist on it by doing it in my own way on my own platforms. I feel like it is a challenge for myself to see if I am capable of writing a post each day (or writing in batches to post on days that I am unavailable). I am curious about how the consistency of posting each day on V&L as well as my Madison Crowley Photo blog will affect engagement. Maybe it will, maybe it won’t. Maybe I will be so tired of doing blog posts each day that I won’t finish (I hope not though, that would be weak of me!!!). Maybe my engagement will stay the same. Some posts will get more views than others because naturally people are drawn to different topics, but really I am just focused on writing about topics that interest me but benefit you. Two years into photography, I have made mistakes and learned lessons that I want to share but also have a good amount of beginner photography wisdom that I want to share. I also have some wisdom on what it takes to be an influencer (I used to focus mainly on that so I know what it takes to pitch yourself, work out contracts, post before deadlines, etc.), how to social media content plan & schedule, as well as a thing or two about non-toxic beauty, gluten & dairy-free cooking, blogging, and so much more. I’ve got a lot of topics to write about and I am excited to take you along with me!!!

Here is a littttttle bit about me in case you are new:
+ I live in Atlanta, Georgia with my 6-year-old Yorkie-Poodle named Boston. If COVID didn’t exist, I would be in Orange County every other month visiting friends, family, and clients.
+ As of today, I work full-time for myself as a photographer & mentor at Madison Crowley Photo (that’s crazy y’all)
+ I have a passion for coffee tbh. I am becoming a coffee connoisseur (not a coffee snob, though) and am newly into matcha. I love fancy drinks. In another life, I would open a boutique coffee shop.
+ I started a fashion blog in 2016 called Forge a Frenzy that has evolved into Vogue & a Latte which is definitely not primarily (or secondary or even tertiary) a fashion blog. At first, I was paralyzed by that as I didn’t know who I was or what to write about. Losing that desire and passion scared me for a while until I realized that the beauty of having your own blog is that you get to write about whatever YOU want. People are attracted to who you are. Write authentically.
+ I eat gluten & dairy-free (not by choice).
+ I care a lot about wellness (non-toxic living) because we come into contact with enough chemicals just by leaving our homes, why not manage the chemicals we actually can control?!
+ I have a wonderfully fantastic boyfriend who is supportive and Godly and funny and handsome and an answer to prayer.
+ I love fresh flowers. And green juice. And dainty gold necklaces. And good-smelling oils/lotions. And online shopping, unfortunately.
+ I am a major list girl. If it isn’t written down, it’s not happening. And that’s a fact.

And here are some topics you can get excited about coming up this Blogmas:
+ Your Email Is a Trap
+ How to Start a Blog
+ How to Plan for Your First Photography Session
+ The Only Business That Requires 0 Investment Upfront
+ Everything You Might Be Wondering About Where to Market Yourself
+ Christmas Eve & The Importance of Planning Ahead
+ Launch & Adjust

This post was short, sweet, and to the point. How I approach a lot of things in my life. If you don’t have efficiency, what do you have when it comes to your business! Most of these posts are going to be beefed up with tips, tricks, and education so we are starting off with a welcoming invitation to join me on this Blogmas journey. Fingers crossed we make it to the end!

You can follow along in real-time on my Instagram at @MadisonCrowley but until tomorrow, ttyl <3

If you feel so inclined, I would LOVE to hear how you got to this post. Instagram? Facebook? A friend?

What I do to get inspired.

by Madison

We all get into creative ruts as bloggers or entrepreneurs. It’s hard to continue creating new content when things in your life are off or you’re just not feeling it. SO, this is my go-to list. I love to write and sometimes I just need a little push in the creative direction. Follow me on Instagram for more day-to-day creativity tips and to see what I’m up to – @MadisonCrowley.

★ Go to spin class. 
Are we surprised this is my first response? Nope! Spin class is my go-to for endorphins and a high. I am always ready to conquer the day after spin class.

★ Get off of Facebook. Go to Pinterest and search something SPECIFIC that you want to learn or write about.
For me lately, I have been searching “branding”. I love learning about the branding process and how I can take details of my brand to every aspect of my blog and Instagram or YouTube. I like learning about new fonts. I like seeing new color palettes. That gets me inspired to finish writing a blog post that I have been saving as a draft, and working hard so that I can expand my brand.

★ Go back to the page/website/person/Instagram/whatever that made you want to start blogging. For me, this is reading Payton Sartain’s blog or watching her YouTube videos. 
I gain a lot of inspiration from other people. I think that if you want to learn how to be great at something, study other people who are succeeding in the area that you are trying to succeed in yourself. Take notes. Watch how they interact. How they post and when they post. If they are killing it, chances are you can learn from them. NOTE: This does not mean copy. Don’t plagiarize. Don’t steal people’s ideas. Don’t copy their outfits. Don’t make your blog or vlog the same as theirs. Simply gather ideas, see if you could do a similar post in your own voice that will speak to your own personal audience. And then remember why you’re doing that you are doing. Write down what you take from their blog. Write down how it makes you feel. Not figure out how to make your audience feel that.

★ Watch Danielle Carolan’s YouTube videos.
I have been watching Danielle Carolan’s videos for a while now and they bring so much light into my life!!! I love that she is in Athens and I get to reminisce about my days at UGA but I also just love her hustle. She inspires me to get my butt up and go after what I want. It’s not going to just be handed to you!!! I think what I love most about her vlogs and Insta is that it’s literally just her life. Payton’s life is kinda dreamy, like a goal or farfetched at times. Danielle is just a college gal living her life on trend and with passion. Kinda how I want to live my life. We can’t all be glamorous all of the time ( not that Payton claims to be, it’s just sometimes the pressure that I put on myself as a blogger ) and I think it’s important to not lose that.

★ Read The Skinny Confidential or listen to The Him and Her Podcast.
Lauryn Evarts is SO INSPIRING. Like everything that she does. Google her blog and podcast. You won’t regret it.

★ Go to a coffee shop.
Pretty sure nothing inspires me as much as going to a coffee shop. If you know me and have been following me for a while, you know that one of my favorite things to do is to find new, cute coffee shops. Coffee shops have an atmosphere that promotes hard work and the coolest vibes. I write some of my best posts and short stories in coffee shops.

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Good Morning! I’m Peyton Baxter. – Good Morning Series

by Madison

Welcome to Vogue and a Latte! Thanks for stopping by my piece of the internet. Today I am bringing another boss babe to your screen and I am SO excited for you all to learn about one of my major blogger inspirations, Peyton Baxter.

Peyton is the creator of love ‘n’ labels, a lifestyle blog filled with bright colors, happiness, ideas, and transparency.

Peyton is SO inspiring and her words bring such truth. She recently wrote this post that brought me to tears! I am so grateful for bloggers who share the deep stuff, the real stuff that grabs you and makes you think. She also talks about her faith on her blog and that brings me so much joy! Jesus is light and he definitely shines through Peyton.

On top of being so real, she has the BEST outfits and photos. She mixes high-end and low-end, which is my kinda vibe. She has such a girly and fun style while still being on top of all of the latest trends. She is super active and engaging on Instagram, which is key. She also has lots of blog posts on how to become a successful blogger and what her personal journey has looked like so far. Basically, Peyton does it all and she is must-follow and must-read babe!!

Enough chit-chat, let’s dive into Peyton’s morning routine:

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I’ve never been a huge morning person … Actually, when I was a little girl, I was a bear to try and wake up for school (LOL!). I’m a complete night owl, and my most productive hours are typically later in the day. That being said, I LOVE my mornings when I can just ease into the day with a hot cup of coffee in one hand and my devotion in the other, not having to be anywhere at the crack of dawn. My ideal morning consists of waking up around 8:15-8: 30 am and easing into the morning for about an hour before I get my work day started. Ideally, I’m in my favorite pajama set from Nordstrom. I’ve gotten out of bed to brush my teeth and wash my face with my favorite Tula products. I’ve made coffee for my husband, TJ, and kissed him goodbye as he’s out the door on his way to work. Then, I make myself a massive cup of coffee from our Keurig (I drink it black). While my coffee is brewing, I go around my house and open up ALL the blinds because I love nothing more than the natural morning light shining through. (I don’t even turn on any lights in my house because I love the natural daylight so much better. It’s so energizing!) During this time, I also light candles around my house and in my office (#candleobsessed). I, then, go back upstairs and cover up with my favorite blanket (#ALWAYScold!), turn on some light music (usually my favorite worship songs or instrumental playlist) and dive headfirst into my devotion for the day. I try to start every morning off with some quiet time and meditation, just to clear my head and get started in the right direction. It’s so easy to want to jump straight into my emails first thing, but I’ve found that on the days when I skip my morning quiet time and get straight to work, it’s like I can’t get ANYTHING done, and I just feel so anxious all day long. It’s sooo important for me to spend time in the Word before I start my workday. Since I became my own boss, I’ve learned just how important it is for me to allow myself a slow, easy hour of my morning to focus on ME and get my day started off of the right foot. Here’s a closer look into my step-by-step morning routine:

8:15-30 am: Wake up the same time that TJ gets up

8:30 am: Brush my teeth & wash my face (or shower)

8:45 am: Make TJ’s coffee

9:00 am: Send Teej off to work, start my coffee & open all blinds / light candles

9:15 am: Turn on light music, dive into my quiet time & sip on my coffee

9:45 am: Make a schedule for the rest of my day in my planner & schedule out each task’s time slot (I just recently started doing this & it really helps me to stay on track with the day’s most important ‘to-dos’ which leads me to getting all my work done in a timely manner. As my own boss and someone who works from home, it’s SO challenging to make myself stop working at the end of the day. There’s always more that could be done, and since my home is my office, there’s no “leaving the office at 5:00”. This is why it’s so important for me to take 15 minutes of my morning and schedule out exactly what I need to do for that day and exactly what time I need to be working on those particular tasks.)

10:00 am: Start with emails & begin my work day (which is pretty much different each day ha!)

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Let’s all give a big shout out to Peyton for chatting with me about her morning routine so that I can share with all of you! Check her out on Instagram or on her blog. If you loved this post, let her know on her Instagram! She is seriously the sweetest human.

Let me know your thoughts on this post! Share it with friends, send it your bestie who loves morning routines, or post it on social media!

Follow along my jam-packed weekend on Instagram  ( @MadisonCrowley ) – it’s going to be a fun one!

‘Til next time,Autumn in November