I’ve had some great feedback about the #blondeink campaign on Instagram and decided to make it easier it will be a 7 Day Instagram Challenge, with a list of prompts to get you through.

I’ll be running one a month, with the best entries getting featured in the Big Ink.

I figure 7 days is easier than committing to a whole month!

So the first one will start on Monday the 27th of May. You can see the list bellow and I’ll post it to the Blonde Ink Instagram account for you to grab a copy to save to your phone or share with your friends and get them to join in!

If the first week turn out to be super successful I’m then going to offer a prize for the best photo for each challenge.

So hop to it and get your friends and family to join in! I always find it easier when playing along with someone else.

I snapped Amy at Honky Tonks, Civic, on Thursday evening.

I was immediately drawn to her chelsea boots, they are a must have this season. Amy describes her style as very feminine; classic with a modern twist. As she spoke I spotted her pearl earrings, which are the classic accessories every girl should own.

Street Snaps is a project to show off some local fashion and you can find it here every Friday morning; just in time for some weekend inspiration.

If you’re a regular reader of blogs you’d know most blogs run an annual reader survey. This is to help get an idea of the demographics of those who read, mostly used to help create marketing material to target at businesses.

I’m more interested in getting an idea of what you like about the blog and what you’d like to see more of.

The survey will literally take 2mins and once you’ve filled it out you’ll go in the draw to win a $100 THE ICONIC voucher – perfect reason to enter, right?

Fill out the survey below and GOOD LUCK!

Competition Terms and Conditions:

Competition closes at midnight on the 31st of May, 2013.

Competition is open to Australian and International residents of any age. There will be one winner and the prize is not negotiable. No responsibility accepted for lost, late or misdirected entries. Please allow 30 days for prize delivery. If winner does not respond within 30 days of the closing date of the competition another winner will be selected. Please only one entry and per person.

With just under a week to go, Canberra it’s time to get very excited!

Canberra’s only alternative community radio station 2XX 98.3FM is very excited to announce the return of its famed Radiothon.

Flying under the radar for several years and one of 2XX FM’s finest traditions, the Radiothon returns on Monday 27th of May and will run until the Sunday 2nd of June. It will give its loyal listeners plenty of opportunities to be involved with their favourite public radio station.

Featuring the finest independent programming in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) including weekday mornings Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders radio show, Sovereign 98.3, and the daily interactive local music show, Local’n'Live, it is an event not to be missed.

2XX FM began in 1973, when a group of ANU students decided to create a forum for progressive student voices. It has since grown to feature a wide variety of music and programs that appeals to the numerous niches and communities throughout the ACT, the surrounding region, and now with live streaming 2XXFM reaches both a nation wide and international audience.

“We leave no voice or taste of music unaccounted for,” said Radiothon co-ordinator Lauren Eisinger.

2XX FM is a volunteer powered radio station developed, produced and presented by local Canberrans for Canberrans. It offers locals 14 to 20 hours of programming every day, with community radio being the preferred choice of approximately 90,000 Canberrans weekly.

“Radio Stations around Australia use radiothons to show how connected they are to the community and to rally support of the community. It’s time for us to start doing that again,” said 2XX FM station manager, Jamie Freestone.

As a community based radio station, 2XX FM relies on the support of its listeners to do bigger and better things.

This year’s Radiothon is all about mobilising Canberra, helping bring local independent radio back to life, and revitalising Canberra’s only alternative radio station- 2XXFM.

In return for the best week of entertainment on offer, you can join in and lend a hand in helping 2XX FM be the finest radio has to offer.

To help your community radio station expand its horizons please donate generously to 2XX FM during the Radiothon. Donations can be made via the website, over the phone, and in person.

You can also join in to festivities at the launch held Gorman House, Braddon this Friday the 24^th of May. Find out more information about the launch here.

To find out more about 2XX FM and to donate visit the 2XXFM website here.

Make sure you tune your radio to 98.3FM, or live stream online, and get ready for the best that community radio has to offer.

It’s here! Another month down!!

Please have a read and leave your feedback in the comments below!

Enjoy

I spotted Sancho at her pop up store Sancho Designs at The Lonsdale Street Traders. Her style is very neat casual, and she layers perfectly for the Canberra weather. I love over size Tees for winter, especially in the navy blue.

If you want to look as stylish as Sancho her store will be up at The Lonsdale Street Traders for a limited time only so make sure you head down there before next Thursday.

Street Snaps is a project to show off some local fashion and you can find it here every Friday morning; just in time for some weekend inspiration.

In case you missed the review in the Big Ink, I thought it was worth putting it up here on the blog as well.

I have so many fond memories of Milk & Honey. I’ve spent many a night there with friends enjoying good food and good wine. I was extremely sad when I heard it was closing and a little skeptical on hearing a different venue would be opening in its place. It had a lot to live up to.

The new pub that has opened is called Shorty’s. Not being able to resist reviewing a new venue, the boyfriend and I decided it would be a fine backdrop for our next date night.

We decided on a late dinner after seeing a movie, upon approaching the pub it was clear all traces of its former glory were gone. On the outside there is a raised deck, giving the space an immediate edge. There is something about sitting on a raised deck and watching passers by that seems so appealing.

Inside the layout and décor dramatically changed. The inside is a mish-mash of eclectic design that many would liken to a Melbourne bar. This sort of décor seems to be a trend continuing through the Garema Place venues (Honky Tonks & Playground).

The bar was already full of people; luckily we snagged the last table that was extremely close the bar and settled in with the menu.

Who can go past the chicken parmigana, and fish and chips? Nothing else screams pub meals, all washed down with a glass of wine. The prices were what I expected, not completely unreasonable for an up-market pub. While waiting for our food and sipping our wine we took in the décor and did some people watching.

After a while we realized why our table was the last, as the line for the bar grew we ended up with people standing practically at our table. The noise level of the pub was high with the music and lots of chit chat that conversation wasn’t easy as we weren’t sitting on each others lap.

The food arrived in good time and on first glance looked good. The meals were definitely pub style but they were executed extremely well. The highlight of the parmigana was the use of a good leg ham and the fish and chips had such a great tartar sauce to go with.

Verdict: A good place for a nice meal with a group of friends. Wouldn’t recommend it as an intimate date venue, but if you’re out for a good night with good food then you should stop by.

Just because Winter is fast approaching doesn’t mean you have to hibernate in doors and become stuck in a dullsville routine. Yes, Canberra in Winter can become really unappealing, the idea of venturing outside the house is unimaginable and your ugg boots start to become permanently attached to your feet.

Try something a bit special to make Winter that little bit more bearable. I’ve come up with some cheap and some not so cheap ideas for help you get there.

Spend the morning in bed

Clear your schedule, make sure you have nothing on until well after lunch and stay in bed. Don’t just sleep, wake up. Have a cuddle with your partner, pop on a movie or TV show and just spend the morning cuddling, kissing and talking.

If you’re feeling especially energetic, make pancakes and eat them in bed together. Then maybe come up with an adult activity to burn off the calories

Corin Forest

When I first moved to Canberra we spent a lot of time during the first snow season at Corin Forest. We tobogganed, roasted marshmallows and I may have pushed my nine-year old sister face first into the snow and almost peed myself with how funny it was.

The recreation centre at Corin Forest took a bit of a hit with the 2003 fires but I’ve been assured by several that it’s still kicking strong. I’m definitely going to make the trip out with the Pool Boy this Winter to roast marshmallows over their open fire in the cafe, throw snowballs and make snow angels.

A Winter feast and bottle of red

For some reason with the change in temperature I want to stuff my face with more and more food (mostly bad food).

Why not try out a new dish, pop open a bottle of red and get under a warm and snuggly blanket with your partner?

There are some great Winter food recipes on the Taste website and I would personally recommend Lamb Shanks in Onion Gravy with Mashed Carrot, grab a bottle of red (or whatever gets you there) and pick a out a new movie to watch.

Utter Winter bliss.

Weekend Away

If you’re not a fan of the Canberra Winter, what are you doing here? Book a cheap weekend away! Head to the coast, it’s not boiling hot, but it is warmer than Canberra and can do wanders for some ‘couple time’.

I relish weekends away with the Pool Boy because there are no distractions and you get to spend so much time together. It feels romantic, couply and with all the kissing and hand holding you’ll probably make those around you sick, so get to it!

Check out wotif for some cheap accommodation, or if you know a better website let everyone know down in the comments.

Image source

Do you have a great Winter date idea? Don’t keep it to yourself – share!

A week or so ago I met possibly the loveliest girl who recognised me as Blondie from the blog. It was the first time someones recognised me! It was such a surreal moment and to top it off she couldn’t have been nicer.

What was even better was when I then met her girlfriends who have also been long time readers of the blog – AMAZING! I was absolutely lost for words getting to meet readers!

I couldn’t resist grabbing a photo of them and putting them up here on the blog. They were such an adorable and stylish bunch!

So here they are – and thank you for making my day!

Before you can name your blog, you need to know what you’ll be blogging about, so I assume you’ve read this post and are ready to move on!

Naming a blog is ridiculously hard, especially now there are so many blogs out there. You need to come up with something different and original that rolls off the tongue and sounds good.

I was lucky enough to have a friend help me come up with Blonde Ink. We were at his place trying to brainstorm, we ended up writing down a whole bunch of words on a piece of paper. Words we thought related to the blog and what the blog was about. We mixed words together, through them around trying to find something that had a good sound.

As we did this I discovered I didn’t want my blog name to tie me down to what I was writing about. I knew that I wouldn’t always write about dating, and I wanted the option to write about other things and not confuse people that came to my blog.

Try doing the same, listing words that relate to what your blog is going to be about, or words that relate to you if you’re happy to have your name attached to your blog.

Once you have a name, you then need to think about a tagline. A tagline is a sentence or a few words that easily describe your blog. For example the blog Fat Mum Slim has gone with just three words ‘living life inspired’. The blog Suger Coat It‘s tag is ‘living the sweet life’. So now it’s your turn, come up with a tagline that best represents your blog.

Here at Blonde Ink we have the tagline ‘life and love’, which neatly sums up the varying topics that we write.

TASK: Come up with the name of your blog. Write all the words you associate with your blog and self and see what sticks. After you decide your blog name, come up with your blogs tagline.