Happy Anniversary to my blog!! Pink for days is turning one today!!! Let’s Party?? – Please answer my poll!!!

OH MY GOD!!

I TOTALLY FORGOT IT WAS TODAY!!!

How has it been a year already? I still remember writing my very first post. I can still feel the moment I created this blog, it’s just so fresh in my memory!!

NOW, WE MUST PARTY!!!

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Improvised Blog Party!!

Party Rules:

1. Tell us 3 things about yourself.

2. Share your blog link.

3. Share 2 of your favorite posts. 

4. Share 2 of your favorite blogs.

5. Interact.

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My favorite posts from my first year as a blogger:

Why I’m no longer an “it” blogger

Oh my God, Oh my God!!

When you just don’t feel like blogging

My money saving habits – Part I + Update

I miss her

A job interview and how to rock it

Home office tour, share with Mr.R

Study tips and time management tips for working students

Top 10 Favorite TV shows of all time – Part II

Top 10 TV shows of all time – Part I

Introducing Mr.R – A love story

My morning and night routines

Hey, hey Q&A – Part II

Hey, hey Q&A – Part I

A few reasons why I might be a bad blogger

My new following rules and some blogging thoughts

Some thoughts on blogging

Bucket list reviewed

Get to know me tag – 25 questions

Impulse buys – dishwasher

How and why I started my business

What makes me unique as a teacher

My dream job

Growing up: School, friends and loves

My family: The girl with no daddy

My name is Cheila

Meet Neide: Interviewing my baby sister

Kitchen tour

Tiny bathroom

Redecorating – Day 354

“Friends for Days” Tag

A love letter

International women’s day

100 followers in less than a month: how

Out of my comfort zone

Meet Rosa – The cutest dog ever

Me, according to my sister

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Survey:

https://cheila25.polldaddy.com/s/favorite-content-1

Thank you so much everyone. Thank you for being there for me for a whole year and for supporting me and my blog. Love you all.

Chey.

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Daily Planner and Journal: 24.10.17 – Happy Anniversary to my Blog, Birthday Recap and “to-do lists” update

Good morning everyone,

First of all, I must wish a Happy Anniversary to my dear blog, Pink For Days. It’s been 9 whole months. Have I ever thought I would be blogging for so long. Never. But I’m so glad I started this blog and very happy for everything it has given me.

Happy 9-Month Anniversary to Pink For Days!

9 Months mean:

• 444 posts;

• 2 219 followers;

• 67 997 views;

• 20 518 visitors;

• 31 268 likes;

• 15 608 comments;

I couldn’t be happier or more proud of this blog and what it means to me. Thank you for your support. My readers are my motivation and joy. 

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Moving on, let’s talk about my birthday.

As you know, I turned 26 yesterday. I have mentioned I’m not so happy about my birthday this year, which is very unusual for me. My birthday used to be my favorite day of the year and, yesterday, I just wasn’t feeling it. It turned out to be a good day anyway, spent with Rui, followed by dinner with my family.

I got very nice gifts:

• 2 bags, black and brown. I was in desperate need of new bags for this season.
• A pair of beautiful black boots.
• A Fujitsu Instax Mini 9:

This Polaroid taking beauty! 

• A beautiful purple Chrysanthemum (I love getting plants).
• An earring stand, to organize my earrings.
• A makeup organizer for my vanity table.

I’m so grateful for all my gifts and I thank my dear family for them. They certainly know me well and do whatever they have to do to make me happy. Thank you, guys!!

My actual party is on Saturday and it has become much bigger than I was expected. It’s a barbecue party, in our Patio, on Saturday at 5 p.m.

My guest list:

1. Rui
2. Myself
3. My sister
4. My mother
5. My stepfather
6. My aunt
7. My aunt’s boyfriend
8. My brother-in-law (Rui’s brother)
9. My friend Alison
10. Her boyfriend
11. My friend Catarina
12. Her boyfriend
13. My friend Patricia
14. Her boyfriend
15. My best friend Ricardo (He can’t come)
16. My friend Déborah (I’m not sure she can come)
17. My friend Joana (she’s actually more of my friend’s friend than mine, but I like her so much and would like to become closer to her) (I hope she’s coming)
18. Her boyfriend (He’s invited but I’m not sure he’s coming)
19. My friend and former student Ery (has family over)
20. My friend and former student Raphael (will be out of the country)
21. Our friends Marlene and César (our favorite couple) (will be away for the weekend)

I have also invited a couple of Rui’s friends, but I have no idea if they’ll be able to come. My parents-in-law are obviously invited but won’t be able to come because they live 2 hours away and my father-in- law works Saturdays.

I’m not sure about the number of guests yet but I’m guessing it will be fun. I wish some people were still in my life so I could invite them but such is life.

Rui and I will make the cake ourselves. I also need to take a cake to work tomorrow because it’s tradition to take one when there’s a birthday. It’s supposed to be a homemade cake as well, so Rui and I will bake it tonight.

Enough about my birthday.

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Over the past few months, I have made countless to-do lists. I’ve realized I have never updated most of them. I know some of you are as obsessed with lists as I am, so I thought I might give you (and myself) a little update. Prepare yourself for a few big lists.

These tasks were supposed to get done before I began working again, but I think most of them have been ignored. Let’s check.

Color code:

1. No longer applies
2. Changes/justification
3. Need to get done
4. Done. Might need to be done again when it comes to housework

 

MY AFTER VACATION TO-DO LIST – AUGUST 16TH TO AUGUST 31ST (PART I)

 

SCHOOL AND WORK

• Study for the 3 exams I need to take in September to finish my degree in Languages, Literature and Cultures with a Major in North American Studies and a Minor in English. Sadly, I’m not able to take the 4 exams I need to take my second minor in History. The exams will be between September 5th and 7th and they are: Business English (I can do this one with my eyes closed, two broken arms and in a coma), Italian A 2 (I might be able to do this one with just one good eye and two broken arms, while juggling glasses) and North American Cinema (for this one I need to study my ass of because I have about 200, 475, 973 pages to read). I need to remember the sign up date which is from August 28th to August 31st. 
•  – Didn’t happen. No longer applies as I decided I was not healthy enough to take the exams. My memory and focus are still nonexistent and my stress levels need to be kept low, so I can manage my anxiety.
• Do some revisions and prepare material for my 8th and 9th grade kids. I haven’t taught Portuguese grammar since last year and I always need some revision. Sadly (or proudly) I know every single English grammar rule by heart but I can’t say the same about my own language. – There was no need. Apparently, I know more than I thought I did.
• Get the works of fiction and poetry they kids will be studying (Hello, Camões) because I don’t have all of them. I may need to borrow some from my sister and find others online.  – No need. There’s plenty of material at work.
• Make a list on all the books I have lent to old students and ask them to return them to me. There’s a bunch of people out there with my books.
• Return all of the ficking books I have from about 4 ficking libraries. I’m late and the old librarians will kick my butt.
• Buy a pencil-case!! (exciting) – Found a good one at home.
• Maybe wash my work bag? Maybe. 
• Get Rui to format my PC and then organize it.
• Take care of some social security/tax documents.
• I should probably get a school year planner instead of my yearly one. – Got one for 16 months.

 

MY AFTER VACATION TO-DO LIST – AUGUST 16TH TO AUGUST 31ST (PART II)

 

PERSONAL AND HEALTH

• I need to get on a sleep schedule. Right now my sleep is all over the place. I might sleep for 12 hours, if no one is there to wake me up. What are alarms for? Well, they’re useless if I can’t hear them at all and sleep through them. I need my sleep, I’m not one of those people who is happy and satisfied with 6-7 hours. I’ve done that and I can’t function properly. I need to be in bed with enough time to sleep 8-9 hours. I know that is too much for an adult, but it’s what I need. I might not sleep the 8 or 9 hours, but I need to be in bed for that long. I need to talk to my doctor and find a way to fall asleep faster, when I get to bed. I takes me 3 hours, sometimes. Other times, I need to get up and take an extra pill (prescribed by her, of course) or I can’t sleep at all. Problem is, the emergency pill is powerful. I take it at about 4 a.m if I’m not asleep by then, and then I sleep till 2 p.m, which is very bad. My doctor and I need to find a good balance and cocktail of pills so I can get in a good, healthy sleep routine. 
• Schedule a dental appointment. I haven’t been to the dentist for about 3 years? Shame on me, I know.
• You know that gynecology appointment I’ve been talking about since I’ve started the blog? It hasn’t happen yet. I REALLY need to take care of that as soon as possible.
• I need to go and do my blood tests and then schedule and appointment to show the results to my doctor. 
• Schedule an appointment to check on my back.
• Find a meal plan that works for me. I need to eat every meal at the same time.
• Make sure my clothes and shoes are ready and in good condition for work. Also, make sure they’re in the right place and organized. Look at my fall wardrobe (Although it only starts on September 21st) and see what’s good and what I need to buy. Go to a thrift store for whatever I need. They’re great for sweaters and cardigans. 
• Let my nails look half-decent. Which means stop biting them. Very hard.
• Create a beauty routine schedule, example: Monday – hair mask; Saturday – shave legs;
• Finish the two books I’m reading now and create and TBR list for the next few months.
• Go and spend one afternoon with my grandmother.
• Take my sister to the beach.  – Didn’t happen but she went with friends!
• Maybe get my eyes checked.
• Choose a back pain yoga video to alternate with my yoga for relaxation video.

 

MY AFTER VACATION TO-DO LIST – AUGUST 16TH TO AUGUST 31ST (PART III)

 

BLOG, SOCIAL MEDIA AND ONLINE WORK

• Update my about page. I have written it 6 months ago when I started this blog and haven’t looked at it since. It’s been half a year so I’m changed, my life has changed, so I need to update it.
• I feel like I want to change some things about my blog. About its appearance, theme, maybe some features and widgets, categories, etc. It needs a bit of attention and organization. And nope, I’m not going self-hosted. It’s a personal choice that I still maintain.
• Take a look at my contact list on my phone. I’m sure there are people there I haven’t spoken to in about 20 years and will not speak again this century. Same for Skype.
• I do some work as a virtual assistant and I have about 2 deadlines to meet and expect to get more work this month.
• I need to pay some more attention to Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Bloglovin and Pinterest.
• I’m now part of a Portuguese bloggers Facebook group and I want to be active there. – Didn’t like it. No longer a part of.
• I’m also part of a Portuguese bloggers website and I need to explore it. – Above.
• I need to come up with a good, solid, blog schedule. 
• I need to film my “Anxiety and depression” related videos.
• I need to go back to publishing more than once a day. My views used to be between 400 and 600 and now can barely reach 200 daily. No way I’m okay with that.
• I’m currently at 1,853 followers, so I think I can expect to be at 2000 by the end of August?Maybe.
• I need to read about a month’s worth of blog posts from my favorite blogs. – Never happened, unfortunately. I’m always pretty late.
• I have about a million comments to answer too. 
• I have a bunch of links left by readers that I definitely want to check.
• I have about 30 awards posts to do. Not sure how I’ll go about them. – Gave up on them. I’m way behind.
• I’ll continue to work with my fellow blogger friends on our magazine. – Not published yet.
• I want to update my Goodreads account.
• I have to publish my H&M haul. – Never happened.

 

MY AFTER VACATION TO-DO LIST – AUGUST 16TH TO AUGUST 31ST (PART IV)

 

HOUSE CLEANING AND ORGANIZATION

• Clean kitchen appliances (microwave, fridge, freezer, oven, stove top, coffee machines, dishwasher, washing machine, iron), including behind and under;
• Deep clean surfaces in the bathroom – scrub bathtub, wash shower curtain, etc.
• Disinfect toilet, taps, rearrange bathroom shelves;
• Organize and deep clean office;
• Clean windows inside and outside;
• Clean and dust details – mirrors, pictures, knickknacks, door knobs, outlets, light switches;
• Clean medicine cabinet – throw away everything empty or expired, make a list to buy what’s needed;
• Organize closets, drawers, throw away everything that is not needed and in no condition to be sold or donated;
• Clean behind and under furniture;
• Wash sofa and seat covers, cushions, curtains, bedroom rug, pillows, mattress cover;
•  Clean and organize “pantry” – wipe down, throw away expired things, organize, make a list to stock up on things (food storage);
• Clean the kitchen sink and under the sink – get rid of empty bottles, etc.
• Clean TV and other electronic devices;
• Clean your vacuum cleaner;
• Clean doors and door frames, especially your front entry;
• Clean or patio, take out all trash;
• Dust ceiling lamps and cobweb the house;
• Empty all trash cans and clean them
• Sweep and de-clutter the outside storage unit;
• Clean inside kitchen cabinets and drawers;
• Get rid of old Tupperware containers;
• Organize papers;

 

I hope you guys like this huge post. It has definitely helped me remember a few things I need to get done. I’ve also realized I got more done than I thought, which is great.

As always, thank you for coming by.

Pink For Days 6 – Month Anniversary

Hello everyone,

I can’t believe I started this blog half a year ago. It’s very stranger for me, as someone who used to have a habit of starting things and not finishing them. I had tried to have a blog more than once before, but I would always give up. I don’t know what happened on January 24th, 2017 but I started this blog and it stuck. I fell in love. It became of part of me. It changed me in ways that are hard for me to believe. We’ve had our ups and downs together, me and my little blog, but we’re still here, standing strong and still very much in love. This blog is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It came to fill hole a that nothing else could. I’m a different person than I was 6 months ago, for sure. I owe it to my blog and to this amazing community that I’m now a part of. You mean so much to me. You are my friends, some of you are my best friends and all of you support me in whatever I’m going through, whatever decision I make, whatever I might need. For that love and support, I thank you. All of you.

You have made this special day possible.

Wishing so much love and with a happy heart,

Chey.

Health for days journey – May 24th (It’s my blog’s 4-month anniversary edition)

Warning: Really long post ahead. Kind of worth reading

I started this blog on January 24, 2017.

I cannot believe I have been doing this for 4 months. I never thought I would go on after a few days because this was not my first blog (nor the second or third) and, with all of them, I had gotten bored after a few days. I guess the timing was right this time. I’m still here, writing almost every day and loving every minute of it.

I was looking for a post on my 3-month anniversary but I couldn’t find one. Did I forget to do one? Was I too busy? Am I too blind to find it? Probably. I would like to compare my numbers but I guess I can’t. Not for showing off. Never. I do this to show you the growth of my blog, to be honest and open and out there. Maybe I can inspire you in any way? Maybe you’re super nosy like me and like to read this type of post? I also do it for myself, as a way of keeping track of things. You know I write everything down. I love to go back to it and analyse. Since I don’t have a post to report the changes in one month and I don’t want to go back and do the math, I’ll give the numbers from the beginning, showing you what I have managed (or been lucky enough) to accomplish in the last 4 months.

Pink for days in numbers: January 24, 2017 – May 24, 2017

Posts: 240

Views: 35,588

Visitors: 9,007

Likes: 15,832

Comments: 9,138

Followers: 1,054

Email followers: 6

Facebook: (I have no idea? It only gives you a monthly overview. I think)

Bloglovin: 58

Twitter: 184

Pinterest: 124

Instagram: 192

Overall, I think things have been going well and that my blog has been somewhat successful. There are a few things I would like to improve and I’ll give you a list of those as well, because you know I have no intention of only showing the good parts.

Pink for days improvement list:

• Turn followers into readers. Yes, many of you have told me not to bother about the fact that I have so many followers but only about 300 or so readers. But it does bother me. I have worked in a clothing store and they would talk about conversion a lot. Converting a client into a buyer. I want to convert a follower into an active reader.
• Be more consistent, just a little: You’ll never tame my posting urges, that’s for sure. Nor will you stop me from cursing, being the #queenofTMI or saying whatever I want. But I could be a little more organized. Maybe have a scheduled hour for my Health for days journey post and for the evening update? Maybe 10 a.m and 10 p.m? That’s an idea. I also know that I’ll have the Guest Post Sunday going but maybe I should have a scheduled hour for it to be posted? I need to start and be consistent with my Wednesday Meal Plan and Recipe Share which I haven’t even started yet.
• Include my own photos and take better ones: I won’t stop posting stock photos anytime soon. They’re easy to find, professional looking and clean while mine are shit. I will, however, try to take more and better photos to share along with my posts.
• Be more active on social media: I’m SO bad at this. I don’t understand Facebook at all. How can it help my blog? I have tried to join a few Facebook groups a few months ago but I got nothing from them. They are confusing and the bloggers there just seem too professional for my taste (I feel like a peasant) and I get bothered by the constant notifications. I like to tweet but I’m not very good at it either. I would like to use Pinterest more, as I have been ignoring it a bit and I would like to be better at commenting and liking your Instagram photos but honestly, most of the time I don’t even see them. I would like to be better and more present. I will work on this as soon as I can. I will probably be using Buffer to schedule social media posts. Does anyone have tips? I’m pretty useless and ignorant when it comes to social media.
• Be a better follower and reader: This is absolutely crucial to me. I want to be up to date with your posts and contribute with good, flattering and constructive comments but, sometimes, all I have time for is “I love this post, great work”. I’m sorry about that. I DO read your posts, but I either don’t have to comment on everyone’s articles and just like them (which breaks my heart) or I just leave a quick comment and feel stupid. I’ll promise I’ll try to get better.

 

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Now, as this is also a health for days journey post, I will share my to-do list for today, as I usually do:

(left from yesterday, aka shame on you bitch)

• Catch up on my blogging challenge posts;
• Make a new schedule for June (need some intensive studying);
• Clean the kitchen: Put away dry dishes, wash dishes, clean fridge (it’s so full of things, I really need to make an inventory and meal plan), clean shelves, table and floor;
• Make my bed, air the bedroom and water bedroom plants;
• Laundry (I’m on it. The weather is perfect)
• Take my supplements;
• Drink 1,5 l of water (MANDATORY) – If this is not done you will die!!!
• Do 20 minutes of yoga (MANDATORY) – also life threatening when not done!!
• Try Azra‘s tip of mixing my conditioner and my mask and leave them on my hair for 2 hours before washing;
• Do some gardening;
• Read blogs;

For today:

• Take care of house plants (dry leaves, water, clean, etc.);
• Put laundry away;
• Tidy up living-room;
• Meal plan;
• Cook dinner;

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Now, something new. Hannah from https://sassygirljourney.wordpress.com/ did this post a few weeks ago and today I thought it was really cool, so I shall do it today, linking up to her lovely blog.

What’s Up Wednesday

What we’re eating this week:

I’ll tell you what I’m making this week (Wednesday to Wednesday) later, with detail but I’m thinking some vegetable soup, some roasted chicken, lots of vegetables, some eggs and whatever I have on the fridge that needs to be eaten before it spoils.

What I’m reminiscing about:

Preparing students for their college admission exams. I miss talking about Camões and Fernando Pessoa for 6 hours every day. I’m not weird at all.

What I’m loving:

OMG! Plants! I’m officially crazy plant lady. We went to the store last night and they were having a sale on plants. One of them looked super sad and about to die and I had to rescue her. She’s now happily catching some sun, after much a much-needed drink of water. And then I saw one that was looking super healthy and beautiful and about to sprout some flowers. I have no idea what they look like and I was intrigued so I bought her for just a little over 1€.

What we’ve been up to:

The usual. Rui works and takes care of his veggie garden and blog. I do whatever around the house and garden and blog and we eat pizza and do stuff together. Oh and we bicker. Usually about very important stuff. Not.

What I’m dreading:

Preparing for my German exam. It’s the only exam I fear.

What I’m working on:

My health, a good studying schedule for June, my garden and plants, the house.

What I’m excited about:

Summer and going to the beach!! We live 10 minutes away. Last Summer I was so sick I could not go to the beach because I was ashamed of being fat. I’m still to fat but I don’t care at all and will rock my sexy one piece, big boobs and cellulite.

What I’m watching/reading:

I’m half way through about 4 books. What a shame. I need to start reading. The second Harry Potter book is one of them. I’m watching a certain show… which the 5 episodes were accidentally leaked… cough, yes I’m a pirate. I’ve started Big Little Lies, I’m shamefully watching Married at First Sight. I’m accidentally watching American Ninja Worrier and Ink Master because the mister likes it. We watch Portuguese Kitchen Nightmares together and yesterday we watched The Girl On The Train. We liked it.

What I’m listening to:

To be honest, I forget music exists. But when I listen I’m down with the La La Land soundtrack.

What I’m wearing: (sexy question, huh?)

Dark blue work out leggings with a pink and light blue strike from top to bottom, turquoise old t-shirt that used to belong to Rui. Classy and fashionable.

What I’m doing this weekend:

Rui is going to a wedding and I’m seeing my best friend Catarina who is here from Austria. I’m so excited!!

What I’m looking forward to the next month:

Studying for exams and my mom and grandmother’s birthday. Also, it’s International Children’s Day and my mom gives us a present. Yes, we’re 21 and 25. We’re still her babes.

What else is new:

I have to go pee.

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Would you like to join me for this? Just tag me so I can read it!! What’s up??

P.S Sorry but you will have to endure my 3 late blogging challenge posts today;

P.S.S I’m leaving all my late award posts to do in June;

P.S.S I will be announcing the winner party goers tomorrow!!

That’s all… for now (threatening voice)

xx