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Creative Classes online

BLOG TIPS, EXTRAS, RANDOM STUFFKim & ChloeComment

Summer's here which means: No. More. School. So why am I so excited to start learning? Because now I can learn exactly what I want! Say what? That's right... I'm ready to start taking even more classes in all things creative. You know, those skills that aren't taught in school,  I'm looking at some creative classes online in photography, calligraphy, some more blogging skills, in-depth photoshop, and... well, I could just keep going. But there are classes for just about anything. I'm interested in more photography and photoshop and my mom wants to learn about coding, and basic DSLR cameras, and maybe even knitting. I'll let her tell you more about creative classes online. Let's get crafting! Creative classes for bloggers

CreativeLive has free live classes in photo & video, art & design, music & audio, craft & maker, money & life. Yeah, so just about everything! I've watched classes on dog photography, but I think I need beginner DSLR classes first. Chloe's interested in Advanced Lightroom and thinks posing and video sound fun too! What I like is that if you miss the classes, or you want to rematch them, you can pay a fee and have them forever. Perfect for bloggers are the graphic design class and a class for redesigning your blog

Lifehacker is a website that has some amazing tips. Simply search photography and you'll get some fantastic ideas and tips. They also have some information about classes occasionally. So, it's not a class or school, but there's always something useful.

Alt on Topic - most of you have hear of Alt Summit, a creative blog conference. While you may not have attended, you can attend classes online. About 1x per month, there are online blogging classes from blogging experts and social media gurus. The classes run all day and could be a quick fix to pick up a lot of info you would get at a conference. There's a cost... but hey, there's no airfare or hotel fees!

Infinite Skills - I like how you join and can learn any area you want for the time period. There is such a diverse range of topics from graphic design, web design, video editing, training in all the Adobe suite, to learning Excel.  You join per month, and have unlimited access to every video in all categories available. I've tried a course and enjoy how the videos are broken down into very small chunks of time.

Skillshare has classes in branding, digital illustration, digital photography entrepreneurship, fashion design, and Chloe's favorite: lettering! She's taken Calligraphy, Lettering for Designers, & Drawing Techniques for Pencil Portraits. I took the Basics of Photoshop. My recommendation as to whether or not the class will be good is to look at the approval rating and the number of students who have taken it.

Craftsy is more arts oriented and looks like you would be going to arts and crafts camp online. There are a ton of classes in knitting, quilting, cake decorating and even photography, jewelry making and paper crafts. I haven't taken any here, but this looks like a fun way to learn a new craft skill. This would be perfect for me to pick up knitting, but also for any day when someone, later this summer, dares to utter the dreaded, "I'm bored." There are a zillion solutions right here for everyone in our family!!

I'm ready for a free afternoon to take new creative classes online and gain a new skill or just try something different and fun... and with all the options literally at our fingertips, anything is possible!

Let me know if I missed one of your favorite places to learn online!

 

 

 

Links I Love

EXTRAS, RANDOM STUFFKim & ChloeComment

Whew! I survived Junior year (just barely) and all the exams that come with the whole experience. I’m officially on summer break, and you know what that means, time for nothing. Not having the responsibilities of school work means that I can aimlessly scroll through the deepest darkest parts of the internet and have no regrets for spending my whole day doing just that. So if you’re not quite on summer break but still want to know what’s trending then you’re in the right spot.

Links I Love via Pinterest

These are the links I love lately.

Dying to try this summer fruit salsa, it looks so delicious that I started drooling while reading the recipe.

Becky from Chipper Things is my new idol. Plus, her Etsy shop is amazing, I’m kinda feelin’ like I need this print in my life.

My family and I are moving into a new house this summer and I’m brainstorming how I want my room to look. Cue all things minimalistic and pretty.

I’ve been dying to go to the beach lately, and this picture has me dreaming of a sojourn in Mexico.

I’m dying to try all of these fruity smoothie recipes, especially that peach & ginger one.

Continuously reminding myself this quote.

Do you have any links that I need to know about? If so, be sure to share them with me in the comments!

xox ~chloe

 

6 gifts I know my mom would love for Mother's Day

EXTRAS, RANDOM STUFFKim & ChloeComment

Mother’s Day is right around the corner and I’ve been brainstorming the perfect gift to get my wonderful mom this year. I think it’s so hard to buy my mom presents because she never hints at what she wants, and if she does, the item is way out of my price range. So the key to gifting a great present, for me at least, is to buy something that is either fun and cute or something that is practical and she’ll use all the time. I think all of the presents on the gift guide are something that are the perfect mix between practical and fun which make for a great present! This gift guide is probably my most favorite one that I’ve ever made and I totally wouldn’t mind snatching any of these presents for myself. And since my mom and I have the same taste (for the most part) I think she’d be happy with any of these gifts!

mother's day gift guide

1. A BAG that charges her phone!  A catch all bag that is made of buttery smooth leather. All moms need a big bag, and this one is cute to boot! Plus, there’s a built in phone charger since her phone is always dying! Double whammy, double the love!

2. Phone Case My mom is ALWAYS losing her phone. She has the old pink case, but I think it's time for an update, and a bright pink case means it's easier to spot when she sets it down on a shelf. In a store. And walks away. Only so we can go running back for it....

3. POUCH  To help keep my mom organized in her catch-all bag (i.e., glasses, credit card, keys) or to use when she doesn’t want to carry a big bag. It could even be an adorable cosmetic case.

4. CREAM Moms always love lotion. This is such a simple gift but it’ll last her all year long. Be sure to pick out a scent that she always says she loves!

5. FLOWERS The original mother’s day gift, and there is nothing wrong with that. Place your mom’s favorite flowers in a pretty vase and you’ve got a gorgeous gift!

6. CARD Last but not least, a card! My mom always says, "this is all I need." A handwritten note can go far so if you don’t have any extra money laying around (lookin’ at you teenagers) or you just want to give a note along with your gift. Your mom will be happy to know that you took time out of your day to write her a sweet little note!

I’d love to know what you’re getting your mom for Mother’s Day, let me know in the comments! And yeah Mom, now you know what I'm choosing from this year :) xo ~chloe