Welcome back to the third week of my Popin Cookin adventure. So far I have taken on the Bento Box and just last week, my life was turned upside-down by the Happy Hamburger Kit. This week I got the chance to try the Doughnut kit and was very happy I did. Over the time I have been watching videos on YouTube, I have been watching Popin Cookin videos. Every person whether they are comedians like Shane Dawson or bakers like Gemma Stafford, they all talked adversely against the simple DIY snack. The doughnut treat in particular.
I mean look at those cute little designs and that little bear on the box.
So okay I have to admit that the design part is like a kid playing with playdough. Unless you have a really cray,cray imagination I would just stick to the molds that are provided. The actual taste of these donuts was somewhere in the realm of a fried dough and a piece of rubber. They were fun to make and very curious little things to eat. Overall the chocolate icing was the most kick-ass part. As far as being disgusted when eating them, I just don't see it. They are actually palatable and if you don't believe me, then you should try them yourself.
Once again, these little astronaut-like just add water snacks are blowing my mind. I love the simple design and the really fun options. My hands still smell like instant donut powder. It really make me crave a real one with some coffee on the side.
So here I am once again talking about the beautiful German people. Not only are they super awesome at following me on YouTube, but they are also very eager for me to try the hardest sentences their language has to offer. But all in good fun I might add.
I don't speak German, which is evident by my writings and videos all being in English. However, I love languages and I have never met one that I wasn't interested in. So enter my YouTube channel where I try different candy from different countries. One of the most popular being Germany. I decided that doing a video on the language would be fun and it really didn't disappoint me! I was given extra homework by the end of the week from several viewers. "Try these words out." "What about a tongue twister" I eagerly said yes. One thing I love about trying out languages I don't know is the ability to start understanding how to make sounds that mimic native speakers.
Something that I always loved doing was mimicking people. My brother and I have a knack for it. Our accents have always been pretty spot on and this is achieved mainly by listening to the words and pronunciations that certain dialects and language groups have.
German has a very cool, but harsh sound and the challenge is making the words flow but still retain their separations. It is hard for me because while I speak English, I grew up in a fairly French immersed region of Louisiana. The French language is very intermixed as vowels and consonants blend together. French is really the only language I know enough of to make sense of what people who speak it are saying, but it is not the only one that holds my interest.
Of all the languages out there, I want to try them all. Why limit yourself to knowing just one but speaking to only a few. I want to be able to talk to others, maybe not fluently, but with confidence that when they hear me speak a few words of their language, they might know that I tried to understand them. Language is personal, but it is also social.
That is why the challenge of speaking German appealed to me, and why it also appealed to those who speak it fluently. They love their language, and it either makes them proud that others want to learn it, or it makes them laugh when others try to emulate them. Whatever the reason they watch, it is awesome to have the chance to learn it.
You can watch the new German Speaking Video below.
So over the last week, I have kept up with my life by posting it to my YouTube channel, but I noticed that over the week I was becoming more upset over what I was doing. I never quite know what is working sometimes, and for so long I have wanted to create a schedule to help plan my videos. So if you noticed, you can now see a schedule on my channel that will tell you exactly what is happening on my YouTube page every week. Be warned, though, everything is subject to change.
If you are tired of hearing about my qualms in life, I am sorry to say that probably won't stop. I am never one to push my feelings on anyone, but if I can help people with dealing with the problems I have, I am going to do it.
I am a sap, what do you expect!
So if you are working on a YouTube channel, I say follow your heart but also follow a schedule. In life, you will find that events happen unexpectedly but remember, the unexpected is not very welcomed by everyone. I had to learn this, and I am slowly working to make my channel focused and routine. My schedule will now keep my ideas in check and it will also help my viewers understand what I am up to. Hopefully, I don't have to always rely on my schedule but for a budding content maker, I have to make sure that the audience knows what I am all about.
So let's see, if you made it through my words you now know that you need a schedule and that's about it. Honestly, that is all I have for YouTube tips today. It is no secret that if you want a successful youtube, then you need one. You also might want to try keeping your content similar. I know I struggle with this, but it is getting better.
Check out my week of vlogging all rolled into one. These videos are due out every Friday.
Yes, I love fall, autumn as it is sometimes called. It is that time of year that all the DIY girls come out and show us how to preserve a cinnamon bun and make it into a wreath to hang on your door. Let’s not forget the fashion bloggers who show you how to bundle up like it -30 degrees outside.
*Sigh*
Brian: So what should you be doing for fall?
I honestly don’t know, but sure I will give you some tips and tricks.
Let’s start with a beverage laced with pumpkin spice. If you can’t find any, you might be blind but you can just pick up a can of pumpkin puree. It’s actually made with pumpkin and will taste more like pumpkin spice than the actually flavored items you get including that latte. It also doesn’t cost 7 bucks.
Why not buy some candles and fresheners that bring out those festive feelings. Nothing says fall over and die better than poisoning your guest and family with the nauseating scent of apples and cinnamon. Seriously don't get too crazy with this stuff. I like the subtle smells of fall just like anyone else but if I walk out of your house and smell like the baked apple pie, something is wrong.
*Sprays can*Cough, Cough
http://www.thecoffeebrewers.com/cleangroup.html
Another Fall activity would be to start buying all your Christmas presents early. No I mean seriously go and do that. Look don’t wait, you are never going to find what you want last minute are you crazy. And while you are at it, let's make fun of everyone else who doesn’t do their shopping early. I am honestly not an earlier shopper but for those of you that are. Applause, because you deserve it. I would have less problem if I would actually spend time looking for the perfect gift. But I am a guy so...
A great idea to keep warm this fall by bundling up in overly expensive and ridiculously suffocating clothes. Hey, you might get choked to death when your scarf snags on something but at least you look fabulous. Seriously just put on a hoodie or something. It is not that cold unless there is snow falling on the ground. Enjoy the air and relax. I love sitting outside with a good book, just fyi.
Also don’t forget to bake every single day. Cookies, cakes, pies, you know the really fattening stuff. Nothing says fall like forgetting how much hard work you put into your beach body. And if you didn’t work on your beach body then that’s okay, nothing to feel guilty about. This is something I really agree with. I always try to look my best for summer and end up not even taking my shirt off. I am so ashamed to say so but when it comes to food during fall, I am going to eat. I will get fit in the spring
So, guys, those are all my tips for Fall.
No, seriously I love this season. If it could always remain fall, that would be amazing. The weather cools down, the leaves change color, Haloween is my birthday so there is always that!!! Big 23!
and the food and family gatherings make it all worth it.
It’s a great time and you should do what you want.
So like most people, I assumed that all DIY candy was in fact candy. You know sweet, sugary, and fruity smelling. Well, in my imaginary world, DIY candy might, in fact, be that way, but in the real world, it isn't. This was proven to me today when I tried the Kracie Popin Cooking Hamburger Kit. Like all the Kracie products, this kit was colorful, came with stirrers and pouring cups, and had an aggravating paper wrapper that doubled as a tray. (Seriously, I hate that). However, this kit has a sinister secret, a secret that would destroy my tastebuds and implode my mind.
It was SAVORY!!!!
I know, I know, calm down. It freaked me out too, but after the initial shock, this fear turned into insecurity and this insecurity bloomed into acceptance. The hamburger kit was, in fact, a kit of a tiny hamburger. The powders for the fries did actually taste like fries and the burger was almost like a patty of ground beef if ground beef was made from weird speckled powder and water. It honestly was the weirdest thing I had ever tasted and it also had me wondering...why?
Because besides the very strange and time-consuming
assembly process of these kits, the last thing I want is something to taste like its actual real life counterpart. Last week I made a Bento Box and everything in it was fruity. This week, the only thing fruity was the actual ketchup I made from powder which I did not eat because I hate KETCHUP!
Now it might sound like I hate these boxes, and honestly, I do don't. They are a fun way to experience a culture and a great way to get viewers on YouTube. By the way, they haven't really done anything for my viewership, but why kill the optimism right. If you don't know what I am talking about check out my CHANNEL. It's the best!! You should subscribe to it. All you have to do is hit that button to the right of you that says subscribe.
So against my better judgement, I continue to make these videos on these strange do it yourself candies and now savory miniature foods from Japan. This is only my second box and I honestly don't know what else could be coming. Okay scratch that, I do know what's coming because I have seven boxes of uneaten Popin Cookin in my media room but still, it is the adventure and mystery of what these treats will taste like that will either have me gasping in delight or utter horror. It is all just a waiting game, and I hope you are there when I find out.
You can watch this week's Popin Cookin video below:
Language, as a part of communication, is important to us all. No matter what language we speak, we use language as a way of expressing our ideas and emotions. Without it, we would have nothing as a species.
So aside from all that profound stuff, today I decided to try my skills at the German language. Why German, well because most of my viewers and subscribers happen to be German. Enough said. I love languages and I always have. Listening to people speak something I could not understand amazed me as a child. Being around grandparents that spoke Cajun French, I understand how important it is to learn a language especially one that is so rooted in my past.
To be fair, I havent had the chance to learn Cajun French, but I spent most of my high school and college career in a French class. I am pretty good, but nowhere near perfect.
Today's video was made to show love to the people of Germany who watch my videos. They really have helped me get started and they are very eager to know about me which I am very grateful for. I also did this video to show them that I also don't know any German. My commenters always apologize for their lack of English skills but for me, it is all fine. I don't even know German so I can guarantee that I would be so lost when trying to conversate in it. I would love to learn the language though. It is so interesting and truthfully, it's really fun to speak.
Usually, the end of summer isn't the best time to create a garden, but that is exactly the idea that my mother decided to do. You see, she has this flower bed outside that has sat dormant for over two years. It was once home to beautiful flowers, but after a hard winter, it became neglected and bare. It's sad to say that we hadn't touched it in so long, it is even worse to say that it is right in her front lawn.
So, on the whim of my mother to make a garden, we decided to do it. We looked up some winter plants hoping to find some that can easily survive if it gets too cold and we went on our way to pick them up. We decided on Hydrangeas, violas, and pansies, we ended up with some daisies and hibiscus too. Not all of them are fall/winter plants, but I think they might survive the hot Louisiana winter. The hardy zone we live in never gets too cold, but we have heard that this year might be the exception. It is all just a waiting game.
While we wait though, we had some extra flowers that we decided to plant in pots outside to give our outdoor space a little more life. It was easy and fun. We just needed:
potting soil
full sun/hardy flowers (we used pansies)
a trowel
and a few rocks (to line the bottom of the pots for drainage)
I also could not find a ficus bonsai to take care of.
btw, my bonsai now has a permanent spot on my parents patio and is doing fairly well. Hopefully, it lasts for a few years or more.
Of course I have a video that captures it all, so feel free to watch it below.
So if you hadn't already guessed it, This blog is all about my experience with YouTube. You can check out my channel HERE. (Its still a work in progress but I need all the help I can get) If you like you can just subscribe to me one the side of the page.
Anyways, back to the topic. Over the course of several months, I have seen a change in myself. About the ways I talk in front of the camera and about the things that are important to me. Of course, this behavior is not unlike the things I learned in College (Broadcast Comm.) but it does surprise me that it took so long for me to implement into my videos. Like snail pace slow.
When I first started, I talked into the camera like I was afraid. I have watched several of my early videos and I notice why they did not get much viewership. They sucked. I know that only a few months have not changed a great deal about my delivery, but I honestly don't really care now where I pick up a camera and start filming. Like I said, I am still working on being overly enthusiastic which is important not for just YouTube videos but for my hopeful career as a journalist on television. And you know, while that career slowly starts to fade, I think a career on YouTube might not be such a bad way to use the things that I learned in college. The second thing I learned about is what is important to me. At first I was unsure of what to do and where to start and honestly, if you are going to start a channel, Make sure you have an idea. I talk about all the stuff I did wrong when starting YouTube in thisPost. My indecisiveness finally led me to viewers who were interested in my life and they, though few, started to ask me to do things for videos. I being so eager to gain their trust, did whatever they asked. That to me is what I find strange, I have always been a people pleaser, but for complete strangers...yeah no. I, however, engaged with those people and they in turn became my subscribers. There is a sense of fulfillment for me when I do the things that my viewers ask, of course, I won't do anything out of reason or feasibility, but I let them know that. It gets you more brownie points with the community and you just feel better about showing someone you care about their ideas, because I mean they did take the time to care about yours.
Case and point, my latest video. A subscriber by the name of Juli asked me to try Pumpernickel bread and guess what, I did!! You can watch that below.
Honestly, I don't expect to get virally famous or gather millions of viewers, but I am glad that some people are genuinely interested in my life. It sure is starting to change for the better. So.
It seems so many people are obsessed with this Popin Cookin stuff. Every time I turn around, there are more and more YouTube videos talking about it or showing viewers how to make it. It was driving me crazy to see so many people buying and making videos with this product that I knew I had to get some to try for myself.
I almost cringed at the price of buying these overly glamorized pour and stir Japanese candies. I could imagine spending 41 dollars to have some rushed shipped to me so that I could make a video to upload to YouTube. I thought it was a waste of money. Hey, it might still be, but here is hoping that I eat my words like DIY fancy cake.
I made the choice to go for it and I got my shipment in rather quickly. If you have been to my blog before, then you would know that my channel is all about candy and that yesterday I talked about my 9 week long series of Popin Cookin that started today. The first choice in the PC adventure series is The Bento Box. You can see the video below.
For those that don't know, a Bento box is usually a form of takeaway meal that can be made at a restaurant or from home. It consists of a meat, usually fish or pork and some different accompaniments like rice, noodles, or cooked vegetables. The difference with Popin Cookin is that all of these items are made from candy.
Now for those of you that have tried Popin Cookin, I want to know your thoughts. I don't find that this DIY candy making is too hard, aside from the fact that everything is in Japanese. The pictures on the carton are easy to understand and mixing and molding food is honestly really fun. I see people always freaking out about the packets or which mixing compartment to use, but I feel like that is all for the show. I had really no problem with the assembly, the only thing I didn't like was how the packaging would be made into the container that the candy sits in. It was too complicated for me, but I still managed. If you watch the video, you will be able to see what I mean.
In the end, the Bento box was so fun to create. There was a rice panda candy along with spaghetti, gummy broccoli and squid. There were plenty of other things and I was really pleased to see the variety. It was a taste of fun from Japan and I couldn't be happier with my purcharse. Make sure if you want to see more of my Popin Cookin adventure to check out my YouTube Channel and Subscribe. You can do that by clicking the subscribe button to your right.
Today I got a glimpse at organization, a glimpse at something that is going to last a while. Today I received several packages that are going to help me create some content on YouTube, grow my channel, and expand my audience. I am thrilled and today, stuffed with candy.
If you follow my YouTube channel, you know that I do candy reviews. If you don't follow my channel then, Hello. I'm Brian and I do candy reviews on YouTube. Feel free to check it out here.
Today, my package of nine Kracie Poppin Cookin kits came in and I am overly excited to get those videos out. If you don't know what those are, then allow me to explain. In simple terms, they are DIY candies from Japan. In complicated terms, they are almost impossible to read (Japanese) and can sometimes not taste very good (Yay for Powdered candy). It's a chore, but it is going to be a fun one. There are nine of them which means that I have nine weeks in total to create videos for my audience to watch. It was a challenge on my part to actually purchase these things. It cost me 41 dollars to have them shipped from Japan. I don't currently work and trust me, it felt like torture on my wallet. I can't be sure if it will do well, but here is hoping my money will be well spent.
If you have heard of Poppin Cooking, Let me know in the comments below and make sure to check out my videos on them starting tomorrow Sept 15 and continuing for 8 weeks every Tuesday.
Now on to the main event, the candy I received today. I never thought that candy would end up helping grab people's attention. I have reflected on it so many times and I am so glad that I decided to do candy videos. One video, in particular, is my German candy video that has been watched 8,000 + times. I know that to some that is not a lot, but to me it the best I have done and it gives me great pleasure to have done it. Through that video, I have answered nearly everyone's questions and even had a subscriber by the name of Michelle send me candy. I can honestly say that we are long-distance friends.
The video I made today was on candy from Colombia. I get a box from Universal Yums every month and each month it is filled with candy from a different country. I don't know much about Colombia, but I know people whose families are from there. I can relate the country with people's faces and I can recall their culture. To taste the candy and snacks they eat every day is something I never thought I would do.
I don't think I will ever get the chance to visit places like Colombia. I may never travel at all, but at least I can have the chance to get a small taste of a culture through a subscription box and maybe, if more people see my videos, a small taste from the people who know their own countries so well.
I love seeing what people have to say about the food they love and I love interacting with them and forming friendships and loyal viewers. While it hasn't changed my life, I feel that these videos have changed my perspective. I never thought that people all over the world were so passionate about the candy they ate, but they really are. It might be a challenge getting the candy and eating it can do a number on the waistline, but it's a sweet way to travel without ever leaving my apartment.
Check out the new Colombian Candy video Here
or watch it above.
So today was a good day, took care of the bonsai, brainstormed for video ideas, and got ready to create two videos today, which were both uploaded. Question is should I have uploaded both videos or maybe waited for another day? I always have trouble trying to figure out YouTube. I know I have said it once before but now that my subscribership is moving forward, I don't know what I am doing wrong. Where are the views and why do I suck?
Okay, I know I don't suck, but I guess I am going to answer my own question. "Where are the views?"
I think the main problem with my low viewership is that I don't have a constant appeal. Videos and channels on YouTube do well if the content is always similar. Subscribers come to appreciate that and watch content creators that have consistent videos. If your videos are like mine and they are scattered all over the spectrum, it's probably best to give your viewers and explanation of what you are doing. Like myself, I constantly tell my viewers that I am trying something new or that the channel is about my life hoping they understand that life is not a one track speeding bullet train.
Another reason and maybe my doubts for today are that I have too many videos for such a short time on YouTube. I feel like maybe my subscribers or potential subscribers have no place to go or they feel like they can't settle into my space. In the coming days, I plan to address this problem with a Channel Trailer. Currently, the trailer space houses one of my many videos, this one on eating things made with Nutella. I have had some success in the past days with more subscribers, but I need something that will solidify my work as a content creator, something that will tether me with the greats of YouTube.
My other qualm with my current situation is that I feel I am not engaging the viewers enough. My audience is very much scattered all across the board. Most are German which is really cool, but I think some people will have trouble relating to me or understanding what I want. If you are German and reading this, please don't take offense. You guys are my one true stronghold in this YouTube world. To remedy the problem, I am going to start focusing on cultural and social topics while still maintaining the same content that I already create. My brand is adapting as more viewers subscribe and I want to make sure that I do this right, for them, and for me. If you struggle with this problem, it's time to start making a niche for yourself and learn what people like. This is the process I am starting.
So I have answered my question but did I answer yours? I don't claim to know the in's and out's of YouTube and I can assure you there are better people out there who have studied this stuff extensively. So continue your search but feel free to take some advice from me.
I will always prevail and I have sworn not to give up on YouTube. So smash that Subscribe button on the side of this page or go to my YouTube Channel for more.
In the end, someone will watch. It might be one or three, but someone will watch. With that I should be satisfied...but I am not.
So this Labor Day, I was fortunate to get to spend some time at the Shrimp and Petroleum Festival in Morgan City, Louisiana. This festival is really one of my favorites and maybe that has to do with it being in my hometown.
If you want to watch what went on this weekend, you can see it here, on my Youtube page.
While shopping around the crafts, I stumbled upon a booth selling bonsai trees. I have seen this setup before, over the many years that I walked the festival crafts. I think the love of plants comes from my grandmother, my mother's mother. She was an avid gardener and a bit of a chemist and botanist. Plants were her thing and if she was alive today, I am sure she would be procuring any and every plant that sprouted from the Earth. That was just the way she was.
So in seeing these bonsai trees, I decided I had to finally have one. I got a Juniper bonsai and it looks like this. So the Juniper bonsai is from the pine family and unlike what everyone believes, they are not in fact tiny trees. They are normal sized plants that are made to look tiny.
The Juniper is a hardy tree that is good in almost any climate as long as it doesn't freeze. They also require little watering, only when the soil is noticeably dry. They are pretty much the perfect plant for people who like to be their own designer. My bonsai has already been through the process of wiring so it is up to me to keep it looking its best. What that means is, is that I have to water it (like it is raining) fertilize it, pinch off undesired shoots, and re-pot when it gets bigger. It is a pretty simple process and it happens to be a very fun adventure. For those that don't have the luxury of pre-wired bonsais, you will have to guide your tiny tree in the direction you want it to grow. Getting that desired look is done through thick wires that wrap around the trunk and branches. You have to do that before winter because after that, the tree goes dormant.
And just in case you are wondering, bonsais are not an indoor plant. Okay, the tropical versions of a bonsai are but the ones you normally see aren't. Right now, my little Juniperus is sitting on my window sill in the sun but it will soon be transferred outside to live its days like a true tree. If you ever get the chance to purchase a bonsai, I say do it. They are wonderful to look at and are really cool to decorate. Mine has a tiny bridge on it with fake water underneath.
See you when the world revolves again...B
JUNIPER BONSAI CARE INSTRUCTIONS:
Re-pot: Every two or three years in early April. Sign to watch for include roots growing in circles in the bottom of the container or the soil level rising up out of the container.
Soil: A bonsai soil that drains well with a pH of 5.0 to 6.5
Fertilize: Miracid or Peters every tow to three weeks in spring and autumn. Switch brands to pick up trace elements your plants may be lacking.
Prune: Continually pinch overgrown buds to encourage secondary branching. heavy branches can be removed in the spring and if necessary in the fall.
Train: Anytime when warm. Remove all wire before winter.
Insects: Maples are relatively pest resistant, although one occasionally encounters a chewing insect which should be removed by hand
Insects/Diseases: Spider mites and bagworms require immediate attention so hose off with water and then spray with Safer Soap. To prevent root-rot, drench the soil two or three-times-a-year with fungicide.
Culture: Cuttings can be taken in early spring and kept moist in perlite. Most species grow very slowly.
Watering: Do not over-water especially during the winter months as root-rot will kill the tree. Early morning watering is preferred and again if the tree dries out during the heat of the day.
Light: Prefers full sun.
Wintering: Junipers are very hardy, however, protect pots and roots in extreme temperatures.
