Some days I just can't come up with ideas for blog posts. Nothing sparks my interest. Have you ever felt like that? Today I thought I'd share a few things that might help you get over this bump.
You spend a lot of time on your blog, writing posts, replying to comments, improving this and that. Maybe it's time to take a break.

Step away from your blog and concentrate on something else. While you're not blogging, your brain will recharge and soon ideas will start coming to you again.

There are millions of other blogs out there. Try and find some new ones. Read what other people are writing about. This may give you some ideas for your own blog posts.

Other bloggers are writing great posts, but a lot of the time I'm too busy with my own blog to go and find these posts and read and comment. But when I do read other blogs I find my head filling up with more plan for my own blog.

I have a notebook in which I write down all the blog post ideas I have. I like to keep this notebook on hand so that when I have no idea what to write about, I can just flip through my notebook and pick a post idea I've already thought of.

I love writing, but I only seem to be able to do one kind at a time. When I'm busy blogging my novels always get pushed to the background.

So when I can't work on my blog, I like to give my attention to my other writing projects instead.

What are your tips? Have you tried any of these?

"Who's going to walk the dog today?" Mum asks.

For a few seconds no one volunteers.  It's cold outside and the wind is blowing hard. Everyone would much rather stay inside with the gas heater.

"I will," I eventually offer glumly.

"I'll join you!" Gemma-Rose bravely says.


We head off in search of warm clothes.

"You'll need gloves," Mum tells us.

"And I'd take a beanie if I were you," Imogen suggests. "I didn't take one yesterday and I regretted it."

"Scarves might also be in order," someone else adds.

Soon we're all kitted up. We look like we're going to the North Pole, but we're nice and warm.



Just as Gemma-Rose and I are about to go outside, Mum has a suggestion.

"Why don't you take your camera with you?" she asks.

I run to grab it. I should get some great shots. Our winter gear will be interesting props.


Finally, we head out the door and set off down the road to the bush tracks.

As we walk along, Gemma-Rose and I hunch down against the cold. The wind tries to get inside our coats and soon our cheeks are rosy.

Every so often I stop to take some photos.


After a few minutes of modeling for me, Gemma-Rose has an idea. "Can I borrow your camera?" she asks.

Hesitantly, I hand it over and Gemma-Rose become photographer and I have to pose for her.

I'm not used to being in front of the camera. I always feel awkward, but I still have a lot of fun.


Eventually I get my camera back, but there is a problem. I have no more power. I forgot to check my battery level before I left.

It doesn't matter though, we're getting rather cold. We hurry to finish our walk. It's nearly dinner time and we're hungry.

 What is the weather like where you live? Are you awkward in front of the camera or are you a natural model like Gemma-Rose.

2/3 cups of milk
1 tbs of lemon juice
2 cups of plain flour
1/4 tsp of baking soda
1 tsp of baking powder
115 grams of cold butter
1 cup of oats
1/2 cup of finely chopped dates
1 tsp of vanilla essence
1/4 cup of rice malt syrup (or honey)

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 190°C.
2. In a small bowl mix milk and lemon juice together. Put this mix to one side.
3. In a big bowl mix together flour, baking soda and baking powder.
4. Rub in the butter until it becomes fine crumbs.
5. Tip in oats, dates, vanilla essence and rice malt syrup. Mix it all up.
6. Stir in the milk and lemon juice mix.
7. Knead until it becomes a dough.
8. Cut your dough into twelve scones.
9. Put your scones in the oven and cook them for twenty minutes.
10. Serve and enjoy!

Do you like inventing recipes? What was the last thing you invented?

"Does anyone one want to take Nora to the dog park?" Dad asks.

My ears prick up. Our dog, Nora, has never been to a dog park before. This should be fun. "I do!" I call, running to get my shoes.

Dad, Mum, Gemma-Rose, Nora and I climb into our car. Nora loves being in the car. She sits up tall and looks out the window the whole trip.

When we arrive at the dog park, Nora gets excited. She can see lots of other dogs playing in a fenced-off area and wants to go join them. I have a hard time holding her back.

Even though the park allows dogs to go without leashes, we decide to leave Nora on hers. She's not used to other dogs.

Dad opens the gate into the fenced area and Nora dashes inside. I hold on tight to her lead as a dog approaches us.

The dog and Nora sniff each other. When Nora walks off, the dog follows her. He's very cute.

After a while, Dad suggests we let Nora off her leash. I slowly unclip. I slowly unclip it.

Nora looks surprised at her freedom. She runs off to the dogs. I walk along behind her to make sure she doesn't get into any trouble.

A tiny dog comes up to Nora. They start to bounce around and play. The little dog, Poppy, barks in excitement. Nora starts to bark as well.

"What a massive bark your dog has," A lady exclaims. No one seems to mind the noise though.

I let Nora play for a while. She is having a great time. She doesn't like it when I put her back onto the leash to go home.

"Do you think she enjoyed herself?" Mum asks when we're back in the car.

"Oh yes!" I cry. Beside me, Nora grins.

Do you have a dog? Have you ever taken it to a dog park?

I was itching to make another video. I hadn't made one in a long time. The only problem was that I didn't know what to make one about.

One day it hit me. I could do a screencast tutorial on how to make blog post graphics. I thought about it for a little bit longer. Yes, that's what I was going to do.

I sat down with my computer and microphone and began recording.

When I had finished recording, I edited my video and then I showed it to Mum. After some feedback, I edited it some more and then showed it to Mum again. Yet more feedback and then I edited it one last time. Finally, I uploaded it to YouTube and smiled, pleased with my work.

Would you like to learn how to make a blog post graphic? If so, please watch my video!

Title: Wildwood Dancing

Author: Juliet Marillier

Stars: 4 out of 5

Genre: Retold Fairytale

Blurb: High in the Transylvanian woods, at the castle Piscul Draculi, live five daughters and their doting father. It's an idyllic life for Jena, the second eldest, who spends her time exploring the mysterious forest with her constant companion, a most unusual frog. But best by far is the castle's hidden portal, known only to the sisters. Every Full Moon, they alone can pass through it into the enchanted world of the Other Kingdom. There they dance through the night with the fey creatures of this magical realm.

But their peace is shattered when Father falls ill and must go to the southern parts to recover, for that is when cousin Cezar arrives. Though he's there to help the girls survive the brutal winter, Jena suspects he has darker motives in store. Meanwhile, Jena's sister has fallen in love with a dangerous creature of the Other Kingdom--an impossible union it's up to Jena to stop.
When Cezar's grip of power begins to tighten, at stake is everything Jena loves: her home, her family, and the Other Kingdom she has come to cherish. To save her world, Jena will be tested in ways she can't imagine--tests of trust, strength, and true love.

Favourite Quote: “If a man has to say trust me", Gogu conveyed, "it's a sure sign you cannot. Trust him, that is. Trust is a thing you know without words.”

Thoughts: I loved all the mystery and adventure in this book. It felt like danger was around every corner. I got really caught up in the story.

My favourite character was Gogo. He has a great personality, plus he has the added bonus of being a frog. I'm not normally a huge fan of talking animals in books, but Gogo is an exception.

Having a lot of sisters myself, I loved how close all the girls in the book were. They were all different and unique. I can't help but wish there was a book for each of the sisters.