Reflecting on a Year of Freelance | #MakeHistory with Jim Beam

It's coming to that time of the year where we all step back and look at what we've achieved over the past 12 months. Evaluating the ups, downs, successes and potential missed opportunities is an invaluable task to helping us grow and move forward. For me, the year of 2014 has been a very significant one -  I ran full steam ahead into freelance life, started to seriously plan for the future and set myself realistic and attainable goals. Not everything went the way I'd planned (I ended up becoming a Yes Man and taking on too much) of course, we can just try our best. It's trial and error in some ways, but being motivated + inspired to push to the next level is always the aim. We choose to make our own history - you can either go with the flow or take control.

Jim Beam is a company no stranger to progression, they've been distilling their famous bourbon since 1795, and the fact that they're still producing today is a testament to the brand's willingness to evolve. They constantly take a fresh approach and cover new grounds, in the same way as we do as creatives. Their #MadeHistory campaign not only highlights what significant work they're doing in their chosen field, but ourselves as individuals too – which got me think about how each week I'm consciously (and subconsciously) laying the foundation for my own future.

Here's how I make my own history each week:

Planning Ahead + Setting Goals

I have a strict routine when it comes to my working week. I set up and plan for the week ahead every Sunday without fail - making lists, filling in spreadsheets, planing content, arranging my diary to set the ball rolling. I have a clear vision of what I want to achieve and Sunday's are imperative to making it a successful one. Certain things will inevitably get in the way but if you stay focused and motivated then the week will fall into place. If you hit the wall then try this short exercise to help regain focus.

Staying True To Yourself + Do What You Love

Doing something I love each week - be that work related or not - is not only good for the soul but is a great way of keeping yourself grounded. Hollie loves jigsaws, I bet if she picked one up more often she'd be less stressed about her day job. As a visual person I'm drawn to certain things like a magpie - to say I'm a collector is an understatement. Sometimes my possessions are met with weird looks and remarks, but this is what makes us individual. Beer mats, cartoon figures, comics, stamps, coins, baseball caps, pencils....they're all a part of me (thanks Grandad). These tokens remind me of a places I've been or an event in my history, and will play an important role in my future.

Trying A Fresh Approach

When something isn't working we need to adapt and try a fresh approach. Often I hit a brick wall with my writing, it doesn't come as natural as I'd like  it to sometimes. Taking a step back and starting a fresh works wonders - determine what's stopping you from completing your task and leap over it with a new outlook. Sometimes we can be reminded of this with something as simple as a new screen saver, or even looking back on past sucession. Nik recommends clearing by going for a run to clear your head but who'd have thought we'd be training with the NFL!?

Investing In Your Passion

I love nothing more than traveling to new places + experience local cultures. It has to be said I spend a lot of my time in London, but I still make a point of wondering into new areas or down unvisited streets, for the love of discovering something unknown. Investing your money into things like cameras, train/plane tickets, night courses, sports, computer programmes or even a new pair of walking boots can give you the drive to achieve things you never thought you could. Remember the excitment of buying your first SLR camera or developing your first roll of film? We could do with more of that feeling.

Meeting New People "In Real Life"

I was given some advice while studying at uni, "every single person in your class is a gateway to a new opportunity". I didn't take that as go looking for people to befriend, but rather to meet people who you feel you have a connection with and share similar interests. Many of us are hooked on social media, but making the time + effort to connect with people "in-real-life" rather than behind the computer screen has an endless amount of benefits. We form relationships with people in all walks of life, and to finally meet the people behind the avatar is very satisfying.

Buckets & Spades would be a lonely place if it wasn't for the real people. Above is one of my highlights of 2014, when I had the opportunity to work with Olivia + Remi on the ASOS On Tour: Tourism Ireland project.

It's times like these that remind me why I love blogging so much. 2014 has been a stonker but I can't wait to see what 2015 may hold. Time to take control. How do you go about making your own history?

The post is in collaboration with Jim Beam for the #MakeHistory Campaign

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Blogging | Have We Taken On Too Much?

For the past two months I've constantly put myself under self-inflicting pressure. It started when we left for Orlando In June - the plan was to wake up early, go for a quick run and post a Holiday Update every couple or so days. I liked this. It was a chance to record my days (I was reading loads too) and share some cool thing I'd found on my travels; packaging, beer, sights...you know. The stuff I enjoy sharing. 

On the back of my mind was the tonne of "to-dos" left waiting for me when I arrived back - Did I say simply say "yes" to too much? This blog has given me many incredible opportunities over the past six years, which has been a truly humbling experience - To work with brands is extremely rewarding, collaborations + sponsored posts (when done right) make for great content and contribute towards my income and the chance to interact and meet like-minded people from across the world, well that's just unreal! It's been the perfect way for me to keep creative after graduating too. But when did blogging become so high-pressured? 





My freelance work suffers because I've got it into my head that if I don't post daily and I'll lose readers or get left behind, but that's not the case. That's not the blogging community, it's stickier than that. It was Rosie's post that really hit a nerve.

I got so caught up with saying "yes" to every request that I've started to subconsciously neglect what this blog is all about - sharing the creative ideas (be that menswear, packaging, travel, beer...) that I'm most enthusiastic about. I turned into the Yes Man without realising, when really I should be prioritising the things that matter most. Sharing and developing relationships with brands + bloggers, concentrating on freelance work + growing my personal brand (cos that pays the bills). I need to prioritise.

Wearing - Albam Sweatshirt | Universal Works Trousers | TRiCKETT Ebbets Cap | Converse First String | Uniqlo Socks | Watch c/o Shore Projects

This doesn't mean that I plan to stop taking on partnerships or accepting gifted items–it's an important part of what we do and when done honestly it adds value, as well as contributing towards to running of Buckets & Spades. But from now on I'll consider everything opportunity with a more critical eye; "is it 100% Buckets & Spades and will you guys enjoy it?" I'll continue to feature the brands I believe in - for instance, here I'm wearing a watch by Shore Projects, which I was lucky enough to be sent a couple of weeks ago. I felt under no pressure to feature it because I adore the simple design and genuinely feel it's up our ally. This works. Featuring something because I feel under pressure, doesn't work.

So, have we taken on too much as bloggers, why have we let it become so stressful? Do you feel the unwanted pressure?

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Enjoy

Enjoy your weekend folks. Surprisingly I actually have both days off this week. After helping at the food bank this morning my plans are to get out in the fresh air and have a cycle then spend some time with Hollie. We haven't had much time since she started her new job, that's what Sunday is for.

In the meantime you can me in the usual places;

 Twitter / Facebook / Instagram / Bloglovin' / Pinterest

Well Camp

I hear the price of these things has skyrocketed over the past few years, lately I keep seeing more and more of them. Either people are doing them up or there's some pretty lavish people in my area. I nearly got hit by one when I was cycling the other day, probably my fault for staring at it too long. I guess it wouldn't be the worse way to go, out with a v-dubs bang, literally.

 Twitter / Facebook / Instagram / Bloglovin' / Northern Goods Co.

She Said Yes!

Last night I asked Hollie to marry me, and she said yes! Yesterday was our 7 year anniversary (well of sorts, it's next Wednesday but we're both busy all day), so I decided to go for it. Nothing romantic really, that isn't the way I roll but we did go for a walk down the promenade to celebrate. 

I couldn't be happier, it's a pretty mad feeling. So enjoy your weekend guys, work or other, I'm sure we will!

Demolition Man

What once was a popular alternative club where I spent quite a few nights in my teens is now a demolition site. It's good, we all have to move on, good times were had there but I never really much liked the place. One evening on my way home from work the whole place had been taken out, which made the commute slightly more interesting than usual. The sun was intense but I managed to get a couple of shots, shame I didn't get the digger's in action.

On a side note, has anyone got any tried and tested Soda bread(or other nice bread) recipes? I've got a taste for the stuff.

The blog is still under construction, I've got a lot of gears to grind but hopefully it will be all set for next week. I've also got a very exciting competition coming up!

Terrace Fields

Terrace Rice Fields in Yunnan Province, China

Fields of Gold in the mountainous reaches of Boracay Island in Philippines 

Refections of clouds in the flooded Rice Fields of Yuanyang County, China

Clifside on Machu Picchu, Peru

Early morning mist over Guangix Province, China

Terrace Fields are nothing I claim to know about but I saw one featured on The Cool Hunter and decided to see if I could find any more images on them. They make for pretty incredible viewing, just imagine seeing an are like this in person though. I'm imagining myself to be totally blown and and most likely pretty speechless, but those are the thing we remember in life. Machu Picchu is one of the places I most like to visit in the world.

It's been a super busy week for me, my hours at work stepped up to full time as well as juggling my other job and working on another exciting project (watch this space). So I'm sorry if I've become a bit slow at replying to comments and stuff, I will get there. 

Thanks to everyone who has ever read my blog and enjoyed it, I'm really happy the way this blog has grown and I'm just glad I can share things I'm genuinely enthusiastic about. it's just a pleasure that you guys like it too. Two thumbs up for all of you.

All images from this here wicked website

Mine's A Strong One

This Scrabble coffee mug is my best afternoon friend of late, I have tones of mugs but this one is my favourite for sure at the moment. I've never seen one of these before so when I ripped the paper off it last month is was really suprised and please.

The sun is out and everyone seems in a much better mood this week. I'm off to read the paper.