Meet the April Sponsors!

It's time to formally introduce you to my lovely April sponsor team. This month I asked the question "what is your favourite social media site or app?" You might discover something new, or take a different perspective on something that you use everyday. If you enjoy this little snippet, be sure to visit these fab ladies at their blog/shop/social media pages and share some love.

blog // facebook // twitter // pinterest

Hi! My bit of the internet is all about being your unique self, embracing simple pleasures, inspiring each other to try something new and making the normal girl in all of us feel extraordinary and accomplished. There are things to read and contemplate, plants to grow, projects to make, free downloads and, of course, things to eat! It'd be lovely if you stop on by. :)

My love affair with Pinterest is everlasting. I can keep everything all in one place and it's far more portable than the 23 binders full of magazine clippings and articles that I used to have. :)  Plus, talk about inspiration! The world is filled with SO many talented people that express themselves in so many different ways. It's happiness and inspiration all in one little package.

my favourite post // Freebie Download: Love Notes

blog // instagram // bloglovin'

Amy Grace is a petite blog about life and the joys that come with it! I'm twenty and a lover of all things beauty! Come join my little world full of makeup rambles, life adventures and a junkies stash of cookbooks ♥ 

Instagram! Its probably a little cliché but I find it so much easier to express my love of something in a photo then with words, and when you go back through all your photos it brings back beautiful memories and special times!

my favourite post // Weekly Catchup

blog // facebook // bloglovin' // twitter

I am a wanderer at heart with a gypsy soul. I love coffee, books and Sex and the City. I'm dating the love of my life with the sexiest smile. This blog is about my wanderlust, my travels and trying to make my own mark on this world.

I love Facebook, how easy it is to use and connect with other people.

my favourite post // Prague

blog // bloglovin' // twitter // dribbble

Kyla Is Inspired is a blog about fashion, design, illustration, and pretty things. I like to post about anything and everything inspiring.

I LOVE Dribbble - it's such an addiction of mine, to go and see what everyone is up to! It's like twitter (which is my second favorite) for creatives. It's such a great inspiration resource, and I find so many new illustrators and designers to follow every time I visit. 

my favourite post // Product & Print

blog // twitter // facebook // pinterest

My name is Maria, I blog about a healthy lifestyle and fashion inspiration! I also sell vintage goodies on etsy :)

I am recently loving spotify. It's a great place to feel inspired by music, and start my day!

my favourite post // Relieving Stress

If you're interested in advertising on Kitty & Buck, simply head over to the advertising page and check out the details! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to email me. Oh, and just because, have 20% off any large or XL ad with the code: damnfinecoffee

Kitty
xo

April Sponsor Giveaway - Win $50 for Ban.Do!

April's giveaway is fabulous! Especially if you're fond of bright colours and shiny things. We are offering one lucky lady (or gent) a $50 store credit to spend at Ban.Do. My personal favourites are the sequin heart clips, suitable for shoes, or anything else that needs a little extra something. Aside from that there are goodies galore including zippered cases, headbands and bits and bobs to dress up your gadgets. All you need to do to enter is tell me your favourite colour! Easy, right?

This giveaway is made possible by my April sponsor team, please visit them to show your appreciation!

Katie: Normal Girl | Amy Grace | The Way I Wanderlust

To enter, simply follow the rafflecopter widget instructions below. There is one compulsory entry and a bunch of bonus entires to give you more chances to win. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kitty
xo

Creative Ladies - Jessica-T

Jessica-T is a Brisbane-based accessories label that supplies and develops fashion products for some of the biggest names in Australian fashion. The label's retail collections are stocked in over 100 stores around Australia and internationally. I first encountered Jessica-T when I found this gorgeous hourglass necklace. Since then, Jessica-T products have been featured a bunch of times on Kitty & Buck.

The company founder, Jessica studied Fashion Design at QUT (Queensland University of Technology) after high school and graduated with honors. After cutting her teeth working with a major Australian retailer as a fashion buyer and then a product developer, she branched out on her own and formed the Jessica-T label. For a young company, Jessica-T has already gathered an impressive collection of accolades, including Jessica being a Queensland Finalist for the Telstra Young Business Women's Awards!

two drop frame earrings blue 

twist and clip bracelet silver

ethnicity necklace silver

shinto bracelet set

I selected a few of my favourite items currently in stock, you can see the full range over at the Jessica-T website.

Kitty
xo

What I Wore | Glittering Black

It's been a long time since I posted an outfit, a combination of rainy weather and lots of work on meaning I haven't had the time nor inclination. This outfit post brings exciting news, though! Over the weekend I attended my very first blog event, a blogging masterclass followed by a cocktail party which was put on by the Kidspot Voices of 2014 folks. And the reason why I was there? Kitty & Buck has somehow managed to land in the top 40 Australian Beauty & Lifestyle blogs for 2014!! How exciting is that? I'm so flattered and grateful to be in the running, after being selected from over 1000 nominations. It's totally mind boggling! I met so many new Aussie bloggers, and caught up with a few that I haven't seen in awhile.

The masterclass covered topics from the best ways to utilise Facebook and social media, to privacy issues and my favourite, how to create a successful side project to your blog - It was exciting to see inspiring ladies like Luisa Brimble, Pip Lincolne and Jaclyn Carlson share their experience and ideas.

Since the dress code was 'casual' for the masterclass and 'cocktail' for the evening party, I thought I'd try something outside of my usual comfort zone and donned this sparkly number. Plus, it was a serious experiment to see if I could be 7ft tall... Not my usual style at all, but it was fun to get dressed up for the night! Besides that, you can flip the sequins around to make crazy patterns. That in itself should sell this dress to you ;)

C and I decided to stay near the venue for the evening and booked a room in the Medusa Hotel. I was sold when I read reviews comparing it to New Orleans! It was definitely a little more modern than anywhere I visited in NOLA, but still had the spirit, with a definite Sydney flavour. These crazy colours lit up the courtyard outside our room, giving it a very Darlinghurst (ahem, Darlo) vibe.

The overall winners won't be announced until later in the year, I'll keep you in the loop. You can check out the full list of finalists here.

reversible sequin dress // asos

jacket // borrowed from C!

heels // windsor smith

ankle socks // urban outfitters (similar)

Kitty
xo

Creative Ladies | Color Me Missy

Honyuet is the lady behind Color Me Missy, a jewellery store based in Singapore. Color Me Missy jewellery is simple and stylish, perfect for everyday wear. Honyuet designs, makes and photographs each item herself, another amazing one-woman operation in the land of handmade business. Aside from the pretty ready-made range, Color Me Missy offers personalised jewellery as well, which is perfect if you're after something special as a gift, with your own touch.

Some of my favourite pieces from Color Me Missy

To complement Color Me Missy, Honyuet runs a sister store called Glitz and Love, specialising in bridal and bridesmaid accessories. For when you need a little more sparkle! I don't know where this girl finds the time! All items are available for international shipping, so anyone can enjoy some handmade goodness all the way from Singapore.

If you want to find out more, you can like Color Me Missy on Facebook or check out Honyuet's inspirations on Pinterest.

Kitty
xo

Meet My Lovely March Sponsor Team

I'd like to introduce you to my March advertisers. This month I asked them to share what makes them happy. I love finding out more about my sponsors each month, I hope you do too! Show them some love by visiting their websites and following along if they rock your boat.

shop // facebook // pinterest

If you love rose gold, love sterling silver, love everyday pretty, love personalized jewelry, Color Me Missy is the shop for you. Color Me Missy personalizes your jewelry with initial and color of your choice, together with custom length. Color Me Missy has new designs every week, and you will never get bored of what we have to offer.

☺ Every little thing makes me happy, from my plants have finally sprouted, to a home cooked meal by my husband, to a short getaway trip to an island nearby. Life is short and I always remind myself to be happy and to appreciate what we already have.

my favourite product // Rose Gold Minimalist Triangle Necklace

blog // instagram // bloglovin'

Amy Grace is a petite blog about life and the joys that come with it! I'm twenty and a lover of all things beauty! Come join my little world full of makeup rambles, life adventures and a junkies stash of cookbooks ♥  

☺ I'm happiest when I'm around people I love; my family and my closest friends. Usually {But not always} with full bellies, empty wine bottles and lots of laughs. Although a good book, a pot of chai tea or a fresh bunch of flowers will always make me smile :)

my favourite post // L'oreal Nude Magique Eau De Teint

blog // facebook // bloglovin' // twitter

HI + LO is a blog about my experiences  as an Indiana farm girl living in Hawaii.  The culture is so rich here and there's always interesting things happening on this island, so I never find myself short of things to write about.  Come join me in paradise on HI + LO! 

☺ Reading makes me blissfully happy and I am very unapologetic about it.  I love reading everything from magazines to blogs (obviously) to books, and the range of books I like is pretty odd.  I'll read everything from Austen to Rowling to King.

my favourite post // Monogram Flower Arrangement

blog // bloglovin' // instagram // twitter

This is the story of a flawed girl. She's indecisive, unrefined, and honest to a fault. Join me in the trials and tribulations of this little thing we call life?

☺ Sunshine, red wine, and chocolate!

my favourite post // weekend wanderings + giveaway

Small sponsor bonus love:
Kyla Is Inspired | Anime Boston 2014
Moon & Roses | Books Challenge 2014
High Walls | Mini Strawberry Crumb Cakes
Perch & Pantry | Zinc Tea Light Holder (on sale!)
Unrehearsed Kickline | 4 x 6 Print Set Valley of the Dolls
Rose And Julep | Routines

Creating Happy | Simplified // Food Plan Progress
Chantilly Songs | DIY Lip Scrub 4 Ways

If you'd like to advertise on Kitty & Buck in April, simply head over to the advertise page now, or email me for more info,

Kitty
xo

Advertise on Kitty & Buck in April

It's time to start thinking about advertising for April (already!). If you have a small biz, shop or blog, why not pop yourself in front of a bunch of new eyes over there on my sidebar? Don't worry, I won't put you over there and forget about you... Each size ad comes with extra benefits, ranging from organic social media mentions all the way up to featured blog posts all about you. My large and XL advertisers will be featured as a 'sponsor' of a monthly giveaway, driving lots of extra traffic to your selected channels (for example, social media accounts, mailing lists, blog following)

If you'd like to find out more, head over to my advertising page. If you're interested, but not sure what is right for you, or have any questions, please feel free to email me! I'd love to help promote you in April.

I also offer solo giveaway posts, so if you're a business looking for some extra exposure, check out a previous example here, and see if it might work for you.

Kitty
xo

Meet My Fab February Sponsors!

My February sponsors are a lovely bunch! Take a moment to learn a little more about those folks you keep seeing on the sidebar, and if you would like to know more, please visit their respective blogs and shops. This month I asked: ☁ What is your dream job?

blog // facebook // instagram // twitter

Twentieth Street is a lifestyle blog focused on finding balance and happiness in the little things in life. You'll find posts about photography (session recaps and tutorials!), travel, recipes and my recent adjustment to gluten-free living, our sweet little guinea pigs, and life in San Francisco - all with a good dose of humor and humility mixed in. My hope is that Twentieth Street inspires others to pursue the things that make them happiest and celebrate the in-between moments that make life worth living.

☁ I have a lot of dream jobs! I'm living one of them as a photographer but in another life, I'd like to be a either a baker or a zoologist.  (Hmm, maybe I should explore food or wildlife photography...!)

my favourite post // Twosday | Hands

shop // facebook // instagram // pinterest

Victoria's Class is a mum-owed shop specialized in unique hair accessories for ladies and girls. We strive to provide accessories with superior quality and with classic, yet timeless styles. Although it is hard not to find something you love in our shop, we can also offer customized designs if you have a special requirement. Come check us out in our website and social media!

☁ I think I have got the closest I can get to my dream job, designing my accessories and being creative everyday! However, I have always wanted to be a furniture upholsterer! I think it is because I love doing my own home projects upholstering little old things and getting them back to their splendor. I love to re-use, re-cycle and re-purpose things.

my favourite product // Red Flower Interchangeable 3 in 1 Headband

blog // facebook // twitter // pinterest

Hey, I'm Kate, the Vegan Gluten-Free Feminist that runs Clear the Way. I'm a total gemini which means I have extremely varied interests/tastes and a whole lot of creativity. On Clear the Way you'll see everything from home decor and recipes to fashion and photography. Stop by and say hello!

☁ While being an astronaut has always sounded so enticing, I will be perfectly happy teaching Feminist Studies at the University level. =]

my favourite post // Warm Wood and Color

discount // 20% off sponsor packages with the code kbuck

website // twitter

Diana is a web designer from Los Angeles. She recently opened Glitter Web Analytics to help bloggers keep track of their site statistics in a super fun, simple way.

☁ Already living it! :)

special offer! 1 week free trail of Glitter Web Analytics

blog // twitter // instagram // bloglovin'

I'm Kristen. I'm an Indiana girl living in Hawaii with my boyfriend and two dogs. I am a professional dabbler and my talent seems to be curiosity. My blog is all about living the HI life on the Big Island of Hawaii!

☁ I'd love to be a writer one day. Writing has been one of my passions for as long as I can remember. In fact, I was attempting to write my own (very bad!) novels when I was in primary school.

my favourite post // Living The Hi Life: Ho'Okena

blog // facebook // pinterest // bloglovin'

Hunting Bears is a place for me to document my craft and printmaking adventures, share my experiments in creative living and generally wax lyrical about all things art and craft.  I also geek out over birds and nature, share regular craft tutorials and the odd travel story.  Grab a cup of coffee and come say hi!

☁ I'd love to be a full-time artist... one with the means to travel regularly! I'd also like to run workshops teaching others about art and craft and the positive effects it can have on your life.

my favourite post // In Flight: I

blog // twitter // pinterest // dribbble

Hi! I'm Kyla, a boring corporate designer by day and freelance illustrator and blogger by night. I love sharing design projects, freebies, fashion, and lots of pretty things. 

What would your dream job be? (no boundaries, astronaut, florist, UN ambassador - whatever!) ☁ ...or an Astrophysicist!

 my favourite post // Fashion Illustration: Red Valentino

blog // facebook // twitter // bloglovin'

I am a little lady with a big personality that loves vintage, anything creative, and life. I own a vintage etsy shop, and have a fashion/lifestyle blog where I share yummy healthy recipes, and bits and pieces of my everyday life.

☁ I would love to be a fashion stylist for famous people in New York City!

my favourite post // Keeping Resolutions: Fitness and Getting Started

blog // facebook // twitter // instagram

Shadylane Blog is full of inspiration and real-life ways to celebrate the everyday. In my experience it is so true that even though every day may not be good, there is something good in every day, and I try to capture, preserve and share those small moments that add up to a beautiful life.

☁ My dream job...hmmm... some days I think I've found it and then other days I just want to go back to working a 9-5! lol. I love what I do now, though. I'm a Project Administrator for a non-profit organization that focusing on safety training and compliance. I work the back end on the computer most days and do lots of coordinating and scheduling. I get to work from home a lot, and each week there is something new to learn. This job, plus my blog designing and photography combined make me a pretty busy and happy girl. 

my favourite post // Transformation Tuesday

I hope you love them all as much as I do :)

If you're interested in advertising on Kitty & Buck in March, simply head over to my sponsor page, or email me.

Kitty

xo

Creative Ladies: Chelsea from Sketchy Notions

Hello! My name is Chelsea and I am the eccentric artist and maker behind Sketchy Notions! 

My favourite thing about my job is being challenged and inspired by my clients and the things they ask me to create. It's a pretty incredible and lucky job to have. Being able to sit and watercolor for hours on end is a nice perk too.

If I wasn't an artist, I would love to explore stunt driving! It's kind of a family tradition.

If you knew me in real life, you would know that I'm a recovering procrastinator and yet very detail oriented. I also tend to hoard art supplies, I know I'll find a use for it all one day...

People are always telling me that I am ...honestly, no one tells me much. I tend to be a homebody, I'd have to leave my art bubble for someone to tell me something! 

If I had to choose one place to live for the rest of my life, it would be Carpinteria, California (with regular visits to Italy!) When I'm not working, I love to cook and bake, I'm trying to be more ambitious with my cooking this year. Chances are I'm plotting or daydreaming my next adventure too.

In 2014, I will be fearless and finally self-publish a book, no excuses this year. I hope that I'll be able to knock off everything on my to-do list this year and I know that I'm going to have to hustle like no other to pull it all off!

If I could give one piece of advice it would be always say yes to traveling! (and for fellow procrastinators, no Netflixs before noon! )

I hope you enjoyed learning more about Chelsea, she's such a great gal! If your interest is piqued, please head on over to her store, Sketchy Notions, and check out more of her beautiful work (plus some gorgeous Valentines Day cards). You can also find some behind the scenes action on her blog. Sketchy Notions is also on Instagram and Twitter. 

Thanks so much for joining us today Chelsea, it's been great having you!

Kitty

xo

Freebie! Track Your Stats

Last week, Sarah released a new e-book called "How to Double Your Blog Traffic in 90 Days (or less!)". I know its been selling really well - Sarah always offers great advice, and with a title like that, how can it not?! One of the first things mentioned in the book is tracking your statistics, so I did what any self-respecting organisational freak would do and created a spreadsheet. Math is not my strong point, and neither are spreadsheets, so I'm quite proud that this one does what I want!

I'm using it to track the (hopeful) improvements I'm taking on board while I work through Sarah's book. If you're working through the same e-book, feel free to download a copy of the sheet and use it for yourself. If you haven't bought Sarah's book, you can get it here! If you're just interested in tracking some specific stats for your blog and social media, without doubling your traffic, you are most welcome to use the spreadsheet. You can find it here.

Technical information:

• To use the spreadsheet, click on the link, it will open in Google Drive. Navigate to "File > Make a Copy" and rename the copy to whatever you want. The original file is set to "view only" so you cannot edit it until you save a copy.
• Don't change any of the numbers to zero. They are at a minimum "1" by default, because, Math.
• At the end of each month, the sheet will calculate a % change (+ or -) for each stat you are tracking (these are 1st-last of month review figures). I had the calculation happening daily, but the spreadsheet ran about as fast as I do up Breakfast Hill* (it's not very fast - and possibly backwards), so the calculations (and colours, borders and fonts) are kept to a minimum to speed up the spreadsheet performance.
• The final row at the end of the 3 months will calculate the difference between your starting date numbers and the final stats after 3 months. So you can see an overall change in addition to monthly progress.
• Don't type anything in the % columns, just type the stats in the relevant date under the heading you are recording.
• You can delete any of the vertical rows (or ignore them) or change the stat you are recording (you might not want to track Facebook, but email subscribers instead, just change the headings)

*so named because when you run up Breakfast Hill, you lose your breakfast - charming

I'd love to know if you get some use from this, and I'm happy to hear suggestions/feedback on how it works for you. I suppose I should mention that this post is not sponsored, I bought the e-book to support a blogger who I truly respect and admire, and I wanted to share this useful tool I was inspired to create with you guys too :)

Kitty
xo

Meet My January Sponsors

It's time to get to know my sidebar advertisers a little better. If you haven't clicked on their ads yet, check them out below, they're a lovely and talented group. This month I have asked each of these ladies to share what they have planned for 2014. If you like the sound of them, be sure to visit their blogs and shops, I know they'd be happy to welcome you.

shop // blog // instagram // twitter

Sketchy Notions is a small one-woman shop run by Chelsea Ward in sunny Southern California. All of our unique paper goods, postcards and more feature original watercolor illustrations and sketches straight out of Chelsea's sketchbooks while travelling across Europe. 

❝I have an ambitious (and daunting) list of goals for my business and personally for 2014. At the top of my list: self publish my first children's book! I'm determined to make it happen this year!❞

my favourite product // "I love you so" Valentines Day card (hand painted and lettered!)

blog // bloglovin' // instagram

Amy Grace is a petite blog about life and the joys that come with it! I'm twenty and a lover of all things beauty! Come join my little world full of makeup rambles, life adventures and a junkies stash of cookbooks ♥

❝2014 is a big year for me! I'm leaving my family home {finally!!} and moving to Sydney. My plan is to go back to school; well uni actually, to do a teaching degree. So hopefully I'll be able to do something a little more meaningful with my life :)❞

my favourite post // hey, 2014

blog // facebook // pinterest

Hunting Bears is a blog about art, craft and living a creative, adventurous life! It's a place for me to document my experiments in printmaking and design, and to share what inspires me - the pursuit of adventure, the exploration of the unknown and an appreciation of the world around us.   I'd love to see you there! 

❝I've learned to not plan my life too far in advance, so I'm fairly open to whatever new opportunities come my way this year.  My big goal is to build my fledgling art and craft business, and to study  printmaking and other crafts in order to fine-tune my skills. ❞

my favourite post // Make Your Own Hand-Printed Picnic Blanket

blog // facebook // twitter // pinterest

My little corner of the internet is all about embracing the simple pleasures in life and making the normal girl in all of us feel extraordinary and accomplished. Come on over because there's food to eat, things to make and stuff to learn! 

 ❝What delightful timing! I'll tell anyone who is willing to listen that this is my "Year Of Reading". To kick it off I just started a new series on the blog called Books-N-Tea to celebrate my love of stories and that delightful, little ritual we call, tea.❞

my favourite post // Giving Yourself Permission To Stop (and Start)

 blog // shop // twitter // bloglovin'

hello! my name is victoria, im a wife and (mostly) stay at home mom living in los angeles, ca. poverty luxe is my blog where i like to write about crafts, clothes, cooking, and our little familys adventures as we learn to love living the broke life. i also have an etsy shop of the same name where i sell the skirts, dresses, and hair bows i make out of vintage and recycled fabrics.  

❝this year is all about sharpening my sewing skills and learning all i can about running a small business so that someday soon i can quit my day job and work from home!❞

my favourite post // Spiral Lace Slouch Hat (free pattern)

blog// facebook // twitter // instagram

Shadylane Blog is full of inspiration and real-life ways to celebrate the everyday. In my experience it is so true that even though every day may not be good, there is something good in every day, and I try to capture, preserve and share those small moments that add up to a beautiful life.  

❝I have chose "Thrive" as my One Little Word for 2014. So much of what is happening in my life right now feel beyond my control, but instead of just surviving it, I hope to thrive in spite of it all. I want my marriage to thrive, my health to thrive, my creativity to thrive and I hope to chronicle it all on my blog...making it thrive too. :) ❞

my favourite post // Life With Gibson - Year One

Thanks to my lovely January sponsor team! If you'd like to advertise in February, I'd love to have you, just head over to my ad page or email me with any questions you might have.

Kitty

xo

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