Featured Blogger #12: August

It feels like absolutely ages since I last featured a blogger. This month things worked a little differently. Usually I choose a blog I've loved and followed for months and yet for the month of August I've chosen a completely new blog! I got Celia's link through the #bbloggers chat over on Twitter and new from the moment I clicked on I was going to love her blog! For one, her layout is incredible, she does it herself which is even better! Her blog is mainly fashion and lifestyle. I've been really getting in to fashion blogs at the moment, usually its all about the beauty blogs for me. Maybe I'm a convert? I asked Celia a few questions about herself and her blog which you can read below. Remember to go and visit Celia's Antics too!
In less than 50 words tell us a little about yourself and your blog. Hello, I’m Celia. I’m 20 year old English student in London. I'm a geek at heart and can spend just as long in a bookshop as I can trying on shoes! Celia's Antics is a fashion-conscious lifestyle blog of a geeky girl where you'll find write-ups of my cultural pursuits alongside the outfits I wore doing them, beauty tips and shopping hauls. And all with a few recipes, rambles and reviews thrown in between! 
When and why did you initially start blogging? I'm really a baby-blogger, Celia's Antics being only five weeks old! I've always had the odd outlet going on over the years (piczo and livejournal, anyone?) so I was aware of the blogging world and tempted to dip my toes into it for a while. I love documenting my experiences and having my own little creative outlet. Before I started I had no idea how strong the blogging community was - I've had such a great experience so far! 
Do you have any tips or ideas for someone wishing to start a blog? Starting a blog is so daunting! You have to think about so many things, so I think it is so important to get it right. My top tip for someone wishing to start a blog is to take your time. Make sure your name is something you're still going to love two years on, make it unique but still personal somehow so it's more memorable. Have a clear direction of the sort of content you want to post - is it just going to be beauty reviews? Or just fashion? Maybe it'll be personal and mix a bit of everything like mine? And of course an attractive, easy-to-navigate layout is a must. If you don't know how to use Photoshop and HTML coding bamboozles you, it's worth investing in a premade layout and getting to know how it works before you open your blog up to the world.
Do you feel you've taken anything out of being part of the blogger community? Something I've really loved being involved in through blogging are the chats. I've met some of the loveliest girls (including yourself, Rachael!) and found some great blogs to read through it as well as gaining more followers. You may have great content and a stunning layout, but if you don't join in with the community on twitter like in the chats, you're missing out not only interacting with tonnes of other bloggers but also learning the ins and outs of blogging! I'm looking forward to joining a lot more when I can, especially the themed topics. I always come away buzzing with enthusiasm and ideas for improving my blog!   What are your 5 favourite products right now? 'Big Blue' Bath Bomb from Lush is a must have for a pamper night! It smells divine and leaves your skin feeling so wonderfully soft. Body Shop make-up brushes are such good quality and last for ages (with a bit of TLC). Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner. As soon as I heard this was Kate Middleton's 'go-to' product, I was sold! It is so well pigmented, lasts for ages (both once applied and in the pot) and goes on so easily! 'Angels on Bare Skin' Cleanser from Lush. It's rare that I find a skin product that does exactly what it says on the tin. This ticks all the boxes for me! 'Benetint' from 'Benefit' - I couldn't live without having one of these in my make-up bag and the other permanently in my handbag! 
Who are your 5 favourite bloggers right now? Lisette @ LisetteLoves – I love that her blog was set up as a positive outlet while her friend was ill. It’s lovely to read something so full of character, especially her ‘Thankful Thursdays’. Bee @ VivaTramp – A girl after my own heart! A fellow English & Creative Writing student. I love how influenced her blog is by this too – she mixes the book reviews in really well between her lifestyle posts. Clare @ FairysBeautyChest – This lovely lady is so supportive. Whenever I’ve put a plea for getting over blogging’s little hurdles she inspires me and always comments on the posts I’m most nervous about. Liv @ What Olivia Did – It’s lovely to have such a kind-hearted, humble big blogger to look up to.  Belphoebe @ Rags of Love – I met Belphoebe at a job interview a few months ago and (bizarrely) stumbled across her blog recently. Small world! I love her literary themes to outfits and could ‘favourite’ her witty tweets all day!
Where can we find you? I'm @CeliasAntics on Twitter Bloglovin: http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/9593475/celias-antics Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/celiabeech/ Instagram: http://instagram.com/celiasantics And of course, my blog: http://celiasantics.blogspot.co.uk/ Do let me know what you think if you pop by – I would love to hear what you think!
Any final words of wisdom? Goodness, I barely feel qualified enough! I would say a blog-reader though, 3 things are important for first impressions: name, layout and content. Your name will be the first thing people will see, make them want to click and find out more. Your layout should entice them to stay and have a browse. Your content must hook them to come back for more. The 'Holy Trinity' of blogging!

You can visit Celia's blog by clicking here!
Remember you can follow AIFA on Bloglovin' and Twitter!