Having a pretty and cohesive Instagram feed has always been something that has been important to me since the day I realized Instagram was a public facing social media platform that could build your brand. It was a freaking epiphany when I realized it was not just for editing weird pictures of my shitty makeup job or some blurry photo of my college friends and I “just being basic LOL”.

Instagram has evolved from being a glorified, old school Facebook album with filters to being a serious place where you can build your brand, your career, and actually make a lot of money from it. 

Now, I am not saying I am an expert by any means, my account, my brand, and my blog are most definitely a work in progress but what I can tell you is, part of building something is the discovery along the way. And part of MY brand is sharing with you the tips and tricks that I uncover. This is actually part of the reason why I didn’t created a new Instagram account for my brand, I just changed my personal one over to @crohnicallyblonde. Why the EFF would I want all of my new followers at 26 years old to see the photos that I thought 19 year old me thought were worthy of Instagram? Well friends, it was a different time back then. Instagram has evolved, and so have I. But I have always had hustle. If you scroll back (not encouraging this but if you want to, be my guest) my Instagram was full of random photos of things that I bought at Nordstrom Rack (or wanted to buy because I was too poor) and where to get them and often their price.

My feed had a ton of makeup posts that shared reviews on the makeup in a super candid real way. Example: I post a hot selfie of myself and talk about Naked Skin foundation by Urban Decay that just came out. Yeah I wanted to post me looking good on a Friday night but I actually was providing people with value. This was actually so on brand for what I was doing back then because I was in makeup sales for almost 5 years, before the days of heavy social media marketing. I had a beauty blog called Beautybombbb (throwback) where I talked about makeup and clothes in a very real and relatable way but never marketed it. I had a decent following of people but I didn’t commit enough to succeed in such and over saturated market. The whole point is, I left this stuff up on my Instagram and I want my followers who stalk the shit out of my account to see that I didn’t just one day wake up and decide to start a blog and an Instagram and BOOM everything is pretty and beautiful. No, there was work and years of practice and honing in and trying out every new app until you find the ones that you like for editing and planning. Plus I kind of like where I came from because it makes me appreciate how far I have come creatively. I like to look back and see how my aesthetic has evolved and matured into what Crohnically Blonde is today. And guess what, it will continue changing an evolving so stay tuned. 

What I DO want to share with you guys today are some of the tricks that I have picked up along my blogging/Instagram journey.

Does anyone use the filters on the actual Instagram app anymore? This one is huge since there are so many apps out now that are competing to catch your eye. Once you narrow down a few, you figure out your editing process and you can save your settings to make sure your photos are all pretty cohesively edited.

A few of my favorites of the moment are:

Facetune- Not to make you look like a Bratz doll… no no no. I use this app for whitening my whites in photos and lightening up a picture. You use the whiten tool that you would actually use for teeth whitening and use it on your background/feature product. I love this trick for flat lays. This trick has been a total game changer for my feed as far as making photos flow and look like they are part of the same series even if I am shooting in different environments.

ColorStory- I love this app mainly for the tools that you can use to edit curves, exposure, tone, and much more in a photo. You can also save your preferred settings and use them again as a default filter for future pictures. They also have some cool filters that I like as well if I lessen the intensity to about 50% or so. 

Looksee- They have some cool filters, specifically for nature and food that I like to take into ColorStory to edit the lighting afterwards.I also like that they have celebrities/influencers create filters that you can purchase for a couple of dollars.

Word Swag- I just recently discovered this app for quotes and I LOVE it. You can use their pre made backgrounds or use your own photo and put quotes of top of them. The quotes can be in a variety of different fonts, layouts, spacing, and styles most of which are pretty well designed. I love this app for making content for Instagram stories and making quote blocks to post that aren’t pulled from Pinterest like everyone else’s.
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I like doing product endorsements and reviews. I actually love it. I love being able to influence buying behavior through social media and I love having the opportunity to try new products. That being said, I only do endorsements or ads for products that align with my vision, mission, and brand. Sometimes brands don’t think before they reach out or they don’t do their research. For example, I’ve been asked to partner with brands to promote products that clearly contain gluten. How in the world am I supposed to try and genuinely endorse a product that I can’t even try?! As cool as the paycheck or free stuff can be, if you start filling your feed with BS products that don’t fit with your brand, you lose buy in from your followers. In addition, make sure that if you do agree to endorse a product you can put your own spin on the post both aesthetically and you can use your own words to describe your authentic experience. I just did a post for Roam Fitness and I loved how they handled it. They gave me creative freedom to pretty much do whatever I wanted and it turned into a really informative and authentic post that people responded to.
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​As I said before, my brand is still a work in progress but I wanted to share my tricks with you that I have discovered so far. I am so obsessed with the art of social media and human consumption of content. I read so many books about it, listen to podcasts, read articles, it just excites me. I hope this post adds value to you guys and if you have any questions about the apps I mentioned or any of the advice I shared please don’t hesitate to reach out.

xx

Recently I had the chance to learn about an insanely cool new addition to BWI that I am pretty obsessed with on all levels. Roam Fitness is the first in airport gym that is actually past the security line. Yup. You heard that right. 

My favorite thing about Roam is that it is really about creating a whole experience. When the founders of Roam were building the foundation of the gym they took into account everything that a customer would encounter during their journey of working out in an airport. They identified the pain points of travelers wishing to work out and created an all encompassing solution which leaves you really no excuse why you wouldn't want to workout at Roam! Their goal is to make the travel experience better overall. 

So here is my breakdown on why Roam is so freaking cool.

​The location. Roam is past security. This little detail makes a huge difference. Think about how early you arrive to the airport just to go through security (especially for international travel) and then once you are through you are bored out of your mind. But, if you wait to go through security, your luck will probably leave you with a two hour line and a missed flight. By Roam being located past security you don't have to worry about having to stand in line post workout and you can maximize your workout time.

The equipment. The founders of Roam made sure to do ample research about what people really wanted in an airport gym. Since space is limited they had to make sure that what was being put in really was going to be utilized and the best of the best. They have state of the art cardio equipment ranging from treadmills, a rower, and spin bikes. They also have free weights, TRX equipment, and an area for yoga and stretching. There is something for everyone which I think is great. If I am up early catching a flight I might want to get in my usual cardio workout or if I have a delayed flight and am stressed out of my mind some yoga could be the answer. 

The amenities. Roam left no rock unturned when they were thinking about the customer experience. Every excuse that you could come up with to not workout, they have an answer for. The number one thing I thought of when I heard about the concept of an airport gym was, well what if I didn't pack workout stuff in my carry on? Roam thought of that too. That is why they actually have clothing and shoes that you can rent. They have a selection of Lululemon workout gear (yaaaaasssss!) and Brooks shoes that you can borrow and return, as well as a retail space where you can purchase your own to take home if you love them so much. If you do bring your own clothes and shoes, they have you covered there as well. They actually vacuum seal your workout gear before you take off so that your sweat isn't stinking up your carry on. This concept is absolute genius. Obviously you are going to want to take a shower before boarding your flight so they have shower facilities that you can reserve ahead of time for 15 minute increments. There is no college dorm waiting for the shower kind of thing going on and you can proactively plan this into your travel schedule. All shampoo, conditioner, and soap is provided and there is a styling bar with every complimentary product you could think of from hairspray to tampons. They really did think of everything. While you are working out you can lock your luggage away in state of the art lockers that even have charging ports for your electronics. To add to the convenience there are monitors located around the facility with flight updates and announcements so that you can track your departure time conveniently.

The people. Roam made it a point to hire team members coming from hospitality backgrounds so that they can play a part in enhancing the customer experience. The airport experience can so often be unpersonalized, stressful, and sometimes people are just downright rude. When you go to Roam you are promised to be greeted by a friendly, helpful face that can assist you through your whole experience at Roam. I don't know about ya'll but for me just having a friendly person to connect with during a stressful experience can make a world of difference. I also like that having such trained and skilled team members really elevates the experience and makes the whole process feel pretty darn luxurious. 

The brand. You know I am ALL about a cohesive brand that really thinks of everything. Well if it isn't clear already, Roam has that going for them. They want to create that "me time" feel of traveling and really encourage people to utilize Roam as an escape from the stresses of travel and pamper themselves. From getting your body moving and feeling good, to pampering yourself with a relaxing shower (with great products!), to continuing the feel good vibes through your day by picking up some of the delicious healthy offerings that Roam sells to eat and drink.

The other really cool thing about Roam is that you get to have a luxurious experience with a reasonable price tag. A day pass is $25, a month pass is $100, and a year pass is $350. With each pass you have access to the entire facility, all of the amenities, and the expertise of the on site staff. I pay $25 at the airport for a handful of magazines and some iTunes episodes of The Bachelor to keep me busy. That money could be a lot more well spent.....clearly......

I am so happy that I had the opportunity to get some behind the scenes insight into Roam Fitness and the journey of its creation. I love hearing stories of entrepreneurs who hustle hard and create things that benefit the greater good. Something that really stuck out to me that the CEO, Cynthia Sandall, mentioned was how much research went into creating Roam. The years of testing out facilities, deciding on equipment, making sure that customer pain points were addressed, and implementing little touches that make the brand so cohesive really set Roam apart as a company. 

I know so many Crohnically Blonde readers are local to the Baltimore area and travel out of BWI regularly so there is no excuse now why you shouldn't carve out some time in your travels to treat yourself to a luxurious workout experience. I know for me, health is a huge thing that I worry about while traveling. I have to keep up with my activity and nutrition so that my Crohn's doesn't wreak havoc on my vacation or work trip. I am honestly relieved that I know there is a place so close to home that really values making your health a priority physically and mentally even while traveling. I can't wait to frequent Roam every time I fly out of BWI and I am looking forward to seeing some of you there! ​

Make sure to check out their website for more details on what Roam Fitness has to offer and give them a follow on Instagram to stay up to date with the latest and greatest happenings (@roam_fitness).

**I will also be doing a giveaway on Instagram for a one day free pass for Roam Fitness @ BWI so make sure to follow me (@crohnicallyblonde) for a chance to win! **


​xx

Happy Monday everyone! Today I am mixing things up because The Brunette Blend tagged me in a cool "How Well Do You Know Me" challenge. The gist is, I answer the 11 questions that she created, create 11 new questions, and tag 11 more bloggers to answer those questions. The trail continues on and on. I think this is such a cool way to connect bloggers and introduce readers to other bloggers with similar taste! This also really reminds me of the quizzes that everyone would post on their MySpace pages #throwback. Please tell me that someone else remembers that....

Here goes nothing!

1. Let’s get this out of the way ASAP. *N Y S Y N C or Backstreet Boys?

Ugh, wait... why is this question so hard. I was a Backstreet Boys girl through and through but I do have to say I love me some JT.

2. Has your blog changed directions since you started?

I actually started my blog during my freshman year of college with a totally different direction. I started off as mainly a beauty/ lifestyle blog because I was in makeup sales throughout college. I went on a hiatus for a bit and came back with Crohnically Blonde which is a concept I am absolutely in love with. I still incorporate a lot of beauty and fashion but that isn't my main focus.

3. Who inspires you to be better?

I know this sounds corny but my boyfriend Matt really inspires me. I see how hard he works to provide for our family and allow us to live great lives. He supports me 110% in my full time job and with all of my blog goals as well. He gives me genuine feedback and always has my best interest at heart. He not only encourages me to be great in my career but also in my personal life. He encourages me to slow down and enjoy the little things, especially our family.

4. What is one thing you couldn’t live without?

My Day Designer. I swear this thing keeps me sane. No matter how much I try and integrate my plans into my phone/Outlook calendar I HAVE to write things down. Whether it is appointments or a "to do list" I can't resist crossing things off in my planner once I complete a task. 

5. What is your social media platform of choice?

Instagram. 

6. What is the first thing you do in the morning?

Pet both of my dogs and give them a kiss. Usually Charleston sleeps above my head and Rhaegar is near my feet. It just sets the tone of my morning giving the pups a little love.

7. What have you learned from blogging?

I've learned the power of sharing your story. I never realized how impactful the things that have shaped me in my life can be to others. Never be afraid to share.

8. What was the last photo you took?

My mail from The Skinny Confidential <3

9. What movie do you quote on a regular basis?

Not a movie but usually Vanderpump Rules. I'm the devil and don't you forget it.

10. What is one of your beauty tips or hacks?

I'm going to do a blog post on this but I use CBD oil on my face for anti-aging/moisturizing benefits. I have a roll on that I originally was using for my jaw pain at night but when I started to realize the skin where I was applying it was smoother and clearer than the rest of my face I realized I was onto something. I use it all over my face every couple of nights and put it on breakouts too. This works especially well to prevent over drying from acne treatments. Here's the scoop -- I use this face mask (its really great for cystic acne too!). I usually leave it on overnight which you aren't supposed to do and can be a bit drying but it definitely does the job of clearing things up. I follow it up with some topical CBD oil which is moisturizing and has healing benefits. Seriously guys, you must try. 

11. What are the three things that ALWAYS make it into your grocery cart?

Sparkling water, avocados, Halo Top (Birthday Cake flavor)



I challenge......

Annie from The Californienne

Raquel from Sincerely Nourished
 
Melissa from Simply Meli

​Shannon from Sunny Coastlines

Julianna from Barre to Table

Sam from The Salty Twig

Michelle from Millennial Mom Life Crisis

Amanda from Cashmere And Jeans

Shelly from Arizona Girl

Hannah from Blissfully Brunette

Amanda from Fashion to Follow



My 11 questions are....

1. What is one beauty product you can't live without?
2. What inspired you to start your blogging journey?
3. What is your favorite blog post that you have ever done? Make sure to link to it!
4. What was the last book you read?
5. What is your go to brunch order?
6. What is your guilty pleasure TV show?
7. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
8. What is your favorite movie ever?
9. What is the biggest take away that you have learned from blogging?
10. What motivates you when you are having a bad day?
11. What is one word or phrase that you use way to much but just can't stop?

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Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you all had a relaxing, refreshing, and rejuvenating weekend! I have been curled up in my house, post Remicade, catching up on blogging and Real Housewives of New York. Today I had my big outing of the weekend and went to grab some Greek food for brunch with my mom, grandpa, and Matt. We tried a bunch of small plates (they have GREAT gluten free choices) but my favorite was the spinach frittata, seriously to die for. It's nice to get dressed and put some makeup on even when you aren't feeling so hot, it boosts my spirits a bit. 

I sported my new Lulu's aviators which I ordered in my ER/pain medicine induced haze and I've ended up really loving them. Also, below is my live action shot of me yelling at Matt for something because I am a gem of a girlfriend. Just kidding, not yelling at him, love you boo.

Anyway, by time I got home I was totally exhausted and I knew writing the full post that I wanted to do was NOT happening. I got a little creative with this one and decided to just do a video of what I was going to do a post on. Genius! According to Gary V. video and audio content is the KEY right now so count me the F in. Honestly, when I am not feeling great it is way easier to articulate myself through spoken words than it is writing something witty and engaging (sorry yall!).

This week I wanted to show you all my favorite things that I am obsessing over lately! I feel like I used to do these in individual posts but I have been trying out so many cool new things that I feel like I needed to group some together. This segment has a mix of books, jewelry, beauty, sparkling water (yassss), and my favorite website for summer fashion. The best part is that everything I am recommending to you all is under $20 and you can get pretty much everything on Amazon. That is, minus Lulus.com because you can spend a boat load of money there. I am not responsible for that. 

I hope you guys enjoy! Please let me know if this is a style of delivering content that you guys and enjoy and I can do some more of these!

Also, feel free to drop me a DM or let me know on my Instagram what products you are ABSOLUTELY LOVING RN. 


​xx.

Things have been crazy this past week! And I can't wait to tell you all about it.....

So first off, it was the week before my Remicade infusion so I was not feeling so hot. On Monday we were scheduled to FINALLY get our AC replaced in our house after three excruciating weeks of waiting. I came home from work a bit early to meet the repair technician and was greeted by two completely destroyed TV remotes all over our bed. 

Yup.

My two little troublemakers ATE, literally ATE TWO REMOTES. This was so ridiculous because we've been leaving them out of the crate for almost a month now with no issues. Luckily, they didn't eat the batteries so it wasn't as bad as I had originally thought but I did end up spending six hours between the regular vet and the vet ER with Rhaegar who was the main culprit. After a pretty penny spent on getting him back to normal, I am happy to say him and Charleston are okay and healthy but they did lose their privilege of roaming free while we are at work.

Other good news, we did finally get our AC replaced thanks to my dad and stepmom coming through and helping out with that while I was at the vet all afternoon. We have a cool new Nest thermostat and a completely new AC system that should last us for a long, long time (or at least it better). 

Needless to say, we were pretty exhausted by time Fourth of July rolled around so we kept things low key and had family dinner at my parent's house which was relaxing and a great opportunity to catch up with them. 

Other than that I have been keeping things superrrrrr chill this week in preparation for my Remicade appointment yesterday. I wanted to give you all an update on that as well. This was my fourth treatment and I was hoping to get some more answers after my inconclusive hospital visit a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, there isn't much that can be done differently. I am off of the steroids because they cause some major sleeping issues for me and I started two new antacids which I haven't tried before so hopefully I will see a difference with those. My doctor also moved up my Remicade to be only 7 weeks apart instead of 8 weeks which will hopefully help me avoid that hardcore crash during that last week. Have any of you guys seen luck with changing the schedule around a bit? 

Overall, I think the Remicade has been a lot better for me and more effective than the Cimzia but I still am not back to my best self. I think with Remicade the times that I feel well I feel a lot better than usual but the times when I don't feel well are the lowest of lows. Sometimes I don't know what is better: to feel really high and really low or to just feel low grade shitty all the time? Only time will tell if this is going to be the long term solution to my case of Crohn's. 

I also am supposed to go BACK onto the Keto diet which I was originally on and then off because of the liquid diet/hospital situation and now I guess it is back on. I am definitely going to have to get things back in check over these next two weeks before I leave for vacation because the last thing I want to do is spend my entire time in Disney being sick. 

I've been doing a ton of research about the different restaurants that Matt and I have booked for our trip and lucky for me, Disney is incredibly accommodating of dietary restrictions. I've seen some blogs about the different options that they offer as well, which has been super helpful. I am going to try and document what I am eating while I am there and share the different options that are offered in hopes of helping other people who have dietary restrictions and are trying to enjoy Disney World as well.

I seem to get a lot of positive feedback on my travel posts so I will make sure to document everything that I am doing with packing, eating, preparing, researching, all of that good stuff. So be on the lookout for that!

I will be spending the rest of this weekend while I am feeling under the weather from my Remicade, creating some new content and responding to any emails that I have gotten from you guys! There are some pretty exciting things that I have in the works and some collaborations that I can't wait to share with you all. Just stay tuned! Now that I should be feeling better in a few days we are back in business.

Something that I don't think I've ever addressed is what the weekend after Remicade actually looks like. I think people assume it is a lot of stomach issues that make someone sick after getting the infusion. It makes sense to think that because that is usually the case but this version of feeling under the weather is a totally different breed. Your joints ache, it is impossible to get comfortable, and it feels like you are running a fever constantly. I feel like I can never drink enough water to feel not dehydrated and I develop a cause of perpetual sore throat. Usually the first night I fall asleep decently early but wake up in the middle of the night with aches and pains that I can't get rid of. By time I get back to sleep it is usually on and off with some really strange dreams which aren't a proven side effect but I SWEAR I dream the weirdest shit after Remicade days. I end up sleeping (or at least laying in bed) until at least noon which sounds like it would be nice but not when you are insanely uncomfortable. After being up for 3-4 hours just sitting on my sofa I start to crash again and have to retreat to bed or curl up with a blanket and Netflix. I usually like to read when I don't feel well but my eyes literally ache for a few days after Remicade so I can only read in small segments of time. I am irritable and cranky and my skin literally hurts to touch. Getting Remicade is basically like having the flu and not being able to do anything about it. 

I know to someone who has never experienced this it could potentially sound over dramatic. Well it isn't. It is 100% truth right here. 

I personally try and make the best of it by making Remicade weekends special for Matt and I where we rent movies, play board games, and spend hours snuggling with the dogs. It is an excuse to do nothing all weekend which isn't horrible. For the hours when I feel like a functioning human I can be very productive with blog stuff because no one is messing with me! 

As always, I am don't share all of this to have people feel bad for what is happening in my treatment, it could be SO much worse, so feel bad for someone who has it a lot worse. I am honest so that if you are going down the path of Remicade you know what to expect. I am honest so that if you are the mom, dad, boyfriend, girlfriend, brother, sister, best friend, coworker, boss, or in anyway in relation to someone who is going through Remicade, you know what that person is going through and maybe you go a little easier on them during the weeks leading up to and following their treatment. So share, share, share this and hopefully the compassion will grow. 

I hope you are having a safe and relaxing weekend and I will have another post up for you guys ASAP!


xx

I am so excited for this week's podcast and so incredibly proud of how it turned out. Not having anything to do with me, but everything to do with my amazing guest. My mom! I wanted her to be my first guest because not only is she my biggest supporter but also is a fellow Crohn's sufferer and has really great insight from her own journeys with health and wellness both physically and mentally. I am excited to share Diane's wisdom with the CB community and I hope you all find her story as valuable as I do! 

If you have any questions for Diane after listening to the podcast feel free to shoot an email over to [email protected] and I will pass it along to her. Also, if there is anything else or other topics that you want me to cover with her next time she is on the podcast, let me know! I am going to do a follow up post with some of her recommendations of things she is loving right now so expect that to be coming out in the next week or so!

Thanks for listening!

​xx