Sundaze 161

Whew! Well I’m officially five weeks into self-isolation, and this week is the one where I’ve truly felt like I’m running out of things to do without feeling like it’s groundhog day. Whilst I’ve made really good progress with my books and also on the writing front, the days are definitely getting knotted into one. Every day is Sundaze now and I’m kinda okay with that. I’m living for the slow, selfish days spent doing whatever my mood fancies, and right now that’s reading, plot-tightening and Animal Crossing on repeat.

This week also saw my working schedule shift because I wrapped up one of my freelance projects last week, which means most of my Thursdays and all of my Fridays are completely free! I still have one retainer client (well, fingers crossed), but I’ve found myself with so much time on my hands that it’s a little… daunting. As such, I’m now funnelling that time into blog posts, Instagram content (at last! I’ve been fairly slack lately) and writing. I’d ideally like to be writing 2,000 words a week for my book, but I’m also conscious that these continue to be unprecedented, difficult times, and it might not be possible for me to do this.

I’ve started a Ko-fi account

Now that I’m working on my blog a little more, I’ve opened up a Ko-fi account for anybody that’d like to support my writing on here. I don’t blog full-time, and I rarely take on sponsored partnerships these days as my focus has shifted, so I thought I’d open up a new way for you guys to support Daisybutter. From domain hosting to improving my photos with new lens and props, to hosting giveaways and (in the future) meet-ups, I hope this little fund can further the Daisybutter ‘experience’.

Support me on Ko-fi here.

Nailing the at-home content

I had a lot of fun trying new at-home content ideas this week. Of course the majority of my content Pre-Coronavirus was already shot at home, but it’s always good to mix up the constant cosy, book and coffee on a bed shots, isn’t it?

First up, I attempted Maria’s genius faux mirror photo hack to great effect. Essentially you set up your camera facing you and your ideal backdrop and hold your phone up whilst your camera does the job. I’m totally going to be doing this again in the future, at least until I can finish decorating my room — with a mirror!

Next, I’ve been LOVING @storynineteen’s FaceTime and social distancing stories shoots. Whilst of course I haven’t been asked to take part, I did want to experiment with the concept. And I’m pretty happy with the outcome! All I did was open up Photo Booth on my MacBook, pop it on timer and shot a reel of lo-fi snaps in my typical Zoom/Skype setup. I think it’s a really unique way of capturing these times, especially as we’re all spending much more time on video calls at the moment. I shared my output on Instagram on Thursday evening, along with a sepia version, and my handwritten responses to @storynineteen’s original questions.

A chocolate care package from Harvey!

It’s now been six weeks since I last saw Harvey, my boyfriend, in real life, and it’s definitely feeling tough now. We don’t live together, and prior to actual lockdown, Harvey had a cough so was self-isolating as his place. I’ve never had to sustain a long-distance relationship before and, lemme tell ya, it ain’t for me. Of course we’ve been video calling each other, but it’s actually getting to a point where seeing him in pixel format is more upsetting than not seeing him at all. I was, naturally, over the moon when a little Doisy & Dam and Candy Kittens care package arrived in the post for me! The perfect pick-me-up for my reading marathons this week!

Links I’ve Loved

Apink made their much-anticipated and long-awaited comeback with Dumhdurum and I’m absolutely obsessed! Their LOOK mini album is so utterly memorable and perfect for spring.
Victoria shared a great post about finding a new work-life balance during lockdown.
17 Cooking Projects for When You’re Staying at Home via The Everygirl
I’m an Adobe Lightroom devotee when it comes to editing photos at the moment. Gemma shares her favourite editing apps, if you’re looking to up your game.
These Crispy Crumbled Potatoes by Smitten Kitchen are truly the stuff of dreams.
I loved reading Ellie’s post-quarantine to-do list; it’s so lovely to read what people are prioritising and finding they’re missing the post.
Rebecca’s Spring Intentions are achievable and practical at the same time, and I’ll totally be taking a leaf out of her book.
I’m not sure there’s a single post by Rosie that I don’t adore. Her way with words is second to none, and this one about pregnancy during a pandemic was so beautiful and moving to read.
20 Things to Do While You’re Stuck at Home via Notes by Joana
Like most small business owners, I’ve been really worried about the impact that the pandemic will have on Tartle Copywriting. This post on The Frugality may help you to ease your worries.