Reader Survey Results

A big thank you to everyone who filled out my reader survey. It was really great getting your responses in and getting a bit more information about you and what you like!

That being said, here are the results of my reader survey! However, you are more than welcome to keep submitting survey responses.

What is your favorite type of content on Alanna & Company? (select all that apply)

Humor - 14%

Lifestyle - 24%

Books, Reading, or Music - 13%

DC and Travel - 11%

Restaurant and Food - 8%

Beauty, Fashion, and Makeup - 8%

Blogging Tips (Including PicMonkey Tutorials) - 22% 

What would you prefer to see less of on Alanna & Company? (select all that apply)

Humor - 0%

Lifestyle - 6%

Books, Reading, or Music - 9%

DC and Travel - 3%

Restaurant and Food - 12%

Beauty, Fashion, and Makeup - 18%

Blogging Tips (Including PicMonkey Tutorials) - 21%

Sponsored/Reviews - 31%

How long have you been reading Alanna & Company?

New Reader - 17%

1 - 2 Months - 47%

2 - 4 Months - 23%

4 - 6 Months - 13%

I find new posts from Alanna & Company on:

Twitter - 7%

Facebook - 41%

Blogger.com - 4%

Bloglovin' or Feedly - 41%

I have your blog bookmarked or directly at www.alannaandcompany.com - 7%

How do you like the frequency of posts?

Just right - 85%

Could have more - 15%

Would like less - 0%

How often do you visit Alanna & Company?

Every day there is a new post - 25%

Two to Three times a week - 54%

Once a week - 21%

What is your age?

16 -24 years old - 22%

25 - 29 years old - 56%

30 - 40 years old - 22%

Now, what?

Well, first of all, I used this on google forms, and the data was a bit hard to format. So next time, I'll definitely use surveymonkey or something like that. I'll keep writing lifestyle posts, but I definitely need to step up the blogging tips and PicMonkey tutorials because you all like those a lot! 

I wasn't surprised that Sponsored posts and review posts were ranked as what you would like to see a lot less of, but then the Blogging Tutorials ranked at 21% of you would prefer to see less, which directly opposes the question above...Weird! Right after that was Beauty, Fashion, and Makeup which I wasn't really surprised with. I'm not the strongest writer in that category, so I'll continue to keep those posts to a minimum.

Most of you find me on Bloglovin' or Feedly and Facebook. I'm going to assume that you mostly chose Facebook because of the Facebook blogging groups that I'm in, not because of my Facebook page, right? If so, I'll continue to share on those! I also need to keep in mind the age demographic. I know I write from my point of view as a twenty-something, but the fact that 44% of you are either 30-40 or 16-24 makes me really happy that I don't just interest people in my age demographic!

Again, thank you, thank you, thank you for filling out my reader survey. What do you think about the results? Any further suggestions? You can always email me at alanna@alannaandcompany.com. As a last thank you to all of you, I am offering a buy one month, get one month free on sponsorship offers. For any of you who purchase an ad within the next week, I'll automatically extend you for a second month on that same spot!

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Don't Forget About August's Instagram Challenge #EverythingAugust

Hey everyone! I just wanted to post a quick reminder that our August Instagram challenge starts this Saturday! I hope you all are just as excited as I am. For a reminder, here's the prompt list again.

So please join Erica from Looking to the Stars, Jasmine from Classy, Sassy. and a Bit Smart-Assy, Ashley from Girl Talk, Helen from Hel on Heels, Christine from So Called Homemaker, Dayne from The Daily Dayne, and myself. 

 I will be featuring my favorite instagram photos weekly and the rest of the co-hosts will be checking out any posts with the hashtag #EverythingAugust too.

All we ask is that you follow all of the hosts on Instagram (@Alannaandco, @thedailydayne, @christineeveryday, @ashleyechase, @csandsblog, @helenguyyay, and @1hotredhd), keep your instagram accounts public so we can see your photos, and to comment and like using the challenge hashtag. 

The challenge starts on August 1st and the first prompt will be "Summer Nights". 

Looking forward to seeing all of your grams in August!

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Do You Know How to Use Commas Properly?

I thought I did and I seriously needed a refresher. It's something I still struggle with. With the invention of spell-check and grammar-check, we've become lazy and forgotten our basic grammar rules. Trust me, I had to look most of these up to verify that I was getting them right.

Oxford Commas

This is also known as a serial comma. This is used to separate items in a series. For example, "I love ice cream, gelato, and fro-yo." The oxford comma is the last comma after gelato. This indicates that you like three separate things. If you forget the oxford comma, then your sentence will mean that you like ice cream individually and then gelato and fro-yo together. Make sense? Here's a handy graphic for the oxford comma. 

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Use a comma after introductory adverbs or if the sentence starts with a freestanding "yes" or "no".

Example: Thankfully, I got fro-yo.

Example: Yes, I would love some fro-yo.

Use a comma when attributing quotes.

Example: Amanda told me, "I will die if I don't get fro-yo this instant." 

Example: "I will die if I don't get fro-yo this instant," said Amanda.

Use a comma when directly addressing someone or something in a sentence

I'm totally guilty of being awful at this. Sorry!

Example: Thank you, Amanda.

Example: Amanda, thank you for bringing me fro-yo.

Use a comma between two adjectives that modify the same noun.

A good tip for this is asking yourself if you can insert an "and" in between the adjectives for the sentence to still make sense. 

Example: My large, fruity fro-yo was the most delicious thing I've tasted all day.

See, the fro-yo was large and fruity, so use a comma between the two adjectives.

Use a comma to offset negation in a sentence.

Example: I want fro-yo, not ice cream, to eat. 

Example: I want fro-yo to eat, not ice cream.

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The meme says it best! Use commas. Don't be a psycho. Just kidding! But hopefully this helps a few of you. Making this post definitely helped me refresh my grammar and punctuation skills. So I hope I got all of these right.

What grammar pet peeves do you have? Do you have any comma rules that you'd like to add to the list?

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Meet The Petite Mrs & a Giveaway

I absolutely love my blogging community and one of my favorite times, is when I get to introduce ya'll to one of my blogging friends. Today, we have Nora from The Petite Mrs Blog.

1.    Describe your blog and why did you start blogging?

I blog over at The Petite Mrs blog and it's a lifestyle blog about everything under the sun. I stick to some main niches but I also really just love sharing my personal stories and experineces with my readers. I often feature my two dachshunds Maggie and Boucer and I'm wildly crazy about social media (@thepetitemrs, everywhere). I started blogging to document our lives as a married couple (our adventures, trials and triumphs) and that's kind of what it started out to be and got much more personal and just everyday randomness- but I think you'll all enjoy it!

2.    What do you do when you’re not blogging?

I really love to be with my husband and our dogs Maggie and Bouncer, I'm a homemaker so I cook, clean and do the majority of things to keep our lives running smoothly. Although I'm not going to lie, I love some good television shows ( like a lot, I have a list a mile long), sometimes I like to read if it's engaging enough and I love to hang out with my friends, eat and shop. And I enjoy coffee dates, so anyone who lives near Portland/Gresham, Oregon- let's get coffee! 

3.    You say that dancing is one of your favorite things to do. How long have you been dancing? What is your favorite style of dance?

 Yes, dance growing up was a passion of mine, wholeheartedly. I danced from about 4 years old until I was about 19 years old. Until about college and it sorta phased out, I lost my fitness level and just didn't have the time, space or pizzazz for it anymore so I haven't taken classes in quite a while. But I really loved Ballet, Jazz, Modern (challenging but what a grounding feeling), and I dabbled in some different workshops-African dance, Bellydance and Lift classes. 

4.    Your two doxies are the cutest! What is each one of their funniest quirks?

Today, I gave them the silliest nicknames. Bouncer-our boy- is now known as "Mr. Grumpy-Gills StretchyButt" and Maggie the girl is known as " Miss Stinky Mouth-Cuddles-a-lot" (kinda gross but that's her). They are a joy to our lives everyday even when we are having troubles in training or socialization. They are spoiled and they know it!

5.    If you were to meet any famous person in real life, who would it be and why?

Maya Angelou (deceased, I know), but I have to thank her for getting me into writing in the first place. In eighth grade we read her poems, passages of her books and I heard her speak on talk shows many times. I was moved by her presence and I felt like she understood how I felt and got me into literary writing and writing poetry (which was my senior project and helped me graduate). She was a terrific lady and I'm sad she's been gone for a few years now, this world is missing her greatly. 

Or Taylor Swift/Carrie Underwood. I love them both equally. 

6. What are your top three favorite posts of yours?

anxiety was wrecking my life 

A sister Pt 1 / A sister Pt 2 

twenty seven wishes

You can follow along with her here:
Bloglovin
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
Pinterest

And now, for the giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I've teamed up with a great group of girls to giveaway a summertime essentials bag. What's in it, you ask?

Everything you need!

Tri-colored Triple Chevron Tote by Autumn and Indigo on Etsy
Floppy Sunhat
Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Sea Salt Spray
EOS Cucumber hand lotion
Burt's Bees Coconut & Pear lip balm
2 Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear nail polishes - shades: Babe Blue & Bare It All
Maybelline Lash Sensational Waterproof Mascara
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen - SPF 55
Ban.Do "Let's Have Fun O.K.?" drink sleeve
Printed Hair Tie Set of 6
Round Aviator Sunglasses
Starfish Charm Necklace
Sun & Moon Stud Earring Set
$5 giftcard to Starbucks
1-month subscription to MyCoffeeism's coffee box
Small notebook & pen

Happy Tuesday ya'll!

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Weekending

Happy Monday everyone! I hope your weekend was as good as mine.

Friday, I went out to DC Improv to see Flip Orley who is a comic hypnotist. I was a bit apprehensive and skeptical about it, but it was absolutely hilarious. He wasn't crass and didn't make any volunteers do anything embarassing. However, he had all of his volunteers forget their name unless they spelt it out letter by letter, and he had one of his volunteers believing that he was the Pumba mascot at disney. 

Saturday, I had an early morning photoshoot! I'll share the photos shortly, I hope they turned out well. Starla and I met our cute next door neighbor puppy. Then I had a Twilighter 5k. I've been running a bit more lately, but I still wasn't prepared for this 5k. My heart rate was ridiculously high. My body felt good, but my lungs were just not having it. I started the timer late as you can see below, but I finished in 37 minutes. 

I've also realized that Starla thinks that my bed is her own. I've been trying to implement a no-bed policy unless I invite her up...but she's too spoiled for that. 

Sunday, I went to brunch at Beuchert's Saloon in Eastern Market. So tasty! We started off with biscuits and unlimited mimosas. The nice twist to the mimosas were that they had mead in them! We ordered the Challah French toast and Eggs benedict. Then of course, dessert was calling our name so we got key lime pie with marshmallow whipped cream. I'm drooling just thinking about this again. 

Finally, I met up with my bestie Ariel for some drinks. We got some wine out and then she decided to cook up a storm. We had home made mac & cheese, sauteed spinach, and grilled sandwiches. The thing I loved the most was the wine bottle, so I snagged it to use it for something....

Isn't it pretty? I would love to use this bottle as a candle if I could cut off the top. Any ideas of what I can use it for?

Hope you all have a great Monday!

Linking up with Biana.

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A Dog's Day Out in D.C.

Summer is a great time to get out and do things outdoors. And with so many things to do in and around the District, why should you leave your four-legged family member at home? I've been trying to find as many things as possible that I can bring Starla to in the city, and there's been a lot we've found to do. 

Other than just walking around the National Mall here are some of my favorite things to do with Starla.

Go to the Shirlington Dog Park. If you haven't been here you're missing out. The park is huge and even has a river that your dog can cool off in. It's Starla's favorite place to go. It's kind of tricky to find, but there's parking off of Four Mile Run Drive. 

Grab a drink at Hotel Monaco in Alexandria. They host a doggy “Yappy Hour” in the hotel’s courtyard every Tuesday and Thursday evenings from April through October. You can enjoy a refreshing drink while your dog can enjoy some social time, doggy treats, and fresh water. 

I also just discovered, Cantina Marina on the Southwest waterfront. The whole downstairs is an open air bar that you can bring your pup in. When I was there, we met three other doggy friends. Careful, their margaritas are strong!

Wineries are also great options. I haven't yet been to a winery that doesn't allow dogs. My favorite one to go to with Starla is 868 Winery in Purcellville, about an hour out of the city.

Take a evening cruise with your canine. Sailing out from Alexandria, the cruise is an hour long and free for your dog. $15 for you. Enjoy seeing all the sights of the city with your pup. 

Of course, there's always Pups in the Park at Nationals Park. What a better thing to do than enjoy America's favorite past time with man's best friend? You're out in section 143 in the outfield and is $26 for you and $10 for your pup. Their $10 ticket goes to the Washington Humane Society.

Barktober Fest is coming up in October for it's second annual beer festival. It's $35 for general admission (free for your pup) and it includes unlimited beer tastings and a tasting glass. There's also food trucks, a doggy costume contest, an agility park for your dog and much more.

And for all your drinking fun with your dog, you definitely do not want to be driving. Red Top Cab of Arlington and Diamond Cab in DC happily take dogs in their cabs usually for an additional $1 surcharge. I'm sure there are more cabs that will take dogs, but these are the two that I've found so far. 

Lastly, dogs are great running partners. You can take your pup along Mt. Vernon trail or even the W&OD trail, but keep make sure it's not too hot for your dog and that you keep them hydrated!

What are your favorite places to take your pup? What should Starla and I do next next?

Linking up with these awesome group of bloggers.

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My Life in Numbers.

I saw this "life in numbers" a little bit ago but hadn't gotten around to writing it. I'm afraid it might be a bit random, but I hope it's a bit fun to read too.

8,974 days since I was born.

5 is the number of times that I've moved since July 2013. Please, can I stay in this current apartment for more than a year this time?

I have published 117 blog posts as of today, 20 of which have been filed under Blogging, 12 to Dog Life, and 50 to Life just like this one.

3 is the number of cars that I've owned in my life.

I drive 22.2 miles to work every day, round trip. In approximately six months, I will be walking 0.5 miles to work and I cannot wait.

The number of tattoos I have is three, although I really only count two. My first one was a "I'M EIGHTEEN AND I'M GOING TO LOVE THIS FLOWER ON MY FOOT FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!" tattoo. So I don't count it. Half the time, I forget it's there.

I spent $37 on laundry the past month, and so far this month I've spent $0. However, I don't want to calculate the amount of money I've spent on clothes so that I just don't have to wash my laundry. This is the first year I've had to pay for laundry. #CitylifeStruggles.

28 days until I take my first summer vacation this year. 78 days since my last day off for vacation.

3 years, 1 month and 17 days since I graduated from college. It's been two years, 1 month and 21 days since I've been in my current job.

After November, I will have traveled/flown on seven trips. I already have four trips planned for next year (all work trips though.)

There are 74 days until my favorite band performs in concert in DC, finally! Tickets sold out in less than one minutes and were originally $20 and are now about $70. Makes me slightly sad inside, but I'm going regardless.

What are some of your numbers? 

Linking up with Humpday Confessions and #HashtagHumpday.

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