Confessions of a Blogger - Inspired Living SA

Confessions of a Blogger Kerry Heathfield

In today’s Confessions of a Blogger we feature the lovely Kerry Heathfield, who blogs over at GuesswhatGirls. I have yet to meet Kerry but we are both currently doing the Well I am 100 Healthy Days Challenge and it has been great to have a fellow blogger to compare notes with!

My name is Kerry and I live in Durban, my days are spent writing, reading and daydreaming. I love way too many things (cats, Taylor Swift, fashion, books, TV series, etc.) and often obsess but it makes my life interesting. At almost 25 I am constantly learning about life and myself which I share on my blog. GuesswhatGirls is a journey of life, dreams, hope, positivity and an attempt at healthy living through my eyes.

When did you start your journey as a blogger and why? I started my blog in 2012 when I finally decided writing was what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted a place where I could practice and learn more about writing as well as network myself and start building my own brand as a writer.
Do you blog fulltime or do you have a regular 9-5 as well? As much as I would love to blog fulltime, the bills need to be paid so I do have a regular 9-5 which I am fortunate enough to love – I am a trainee ladieswear merchandiser which is right up my alley because I do love fashion.

Tell us a bit about your space on the Interweb and what you blog about? My space is all about just writing what I feel, what I like and what I am learning in all aspects of life, it really is like a diary. My blog topics have changed many times since I started the blog because I did battle with my niche for a while – I love a lot of things and wanted to write about them all but eventually (recently) decided to settle on lifestyle and inspiration because as much as I love fashion and reading etc. there is so much to be said about life and everyone could do with some inspiration.
Being a blogger is not always easy – what motivates you and keeps you going?Definitely my passion for writing and learning.

How important do you think it is to have a niche blog? I think it is important to an extent – people need to know what they are coming to your blog to read but I do feel that a niche limits you somewhat if you are anything like me and just really like a lot of things and want to share with them the world and get as much writing in as possible. I do think that an overall niche is good, for example fashion or lifestyle and then you can do whatever you want with it, which is what I have chosen to do with my blog and my “lifestyle niche”
What have your biggest blogging challenges been? Definitely comparison and envy. There are so many bloggers out there and there was a time where I couldn’t help but compare myself and my blog to the “successful” bloggers and blogs. At one point I totally forgot why I started a blog and just wanted to compete, luckily that was a short period and I am happy to say I am finally over it. I also always struggle to write my bio and change it regularly.
What do you love most about being a blogger? Besides the fact that I can write what I want, when I want, I just think it is such an awesome way to use your creativity as well as meet new people and learn a lot.
If you had to choose a favourite social media platform, what would it be and why?Such a toughie – I actually cannot choose between Twitter and Instagram because I spend equal amounts of time on them and they are both awesome for different reasons. Instagram is a feast for the eyes and Twitter teaches me things on a daily basis.
What has your journey as a blogger taught you {about yourself or in general}? Has it changed your life in any way? It has changed my life in so many ways – the things I have learnt about writing, people and about the media/blogging industry would never be learnt somewhere else. I have also learnt so much about myself and have changed many old habits which I not only did as a blogger but in everyday life (such as comparison)
If you had to give a newbie blogger any advice, what words of wisdom would you impart? DON’T ever compare! It really is a joy thief and a waste of time. Also, just do it for yourself and your passion.

Thanks Kerry for sharing a bit more about your life and blogging journey with us! You can find out more about Kerry and connect with her here:

Blog link: www.guesswhatgirls.wordpress.com

Twitter: @_kerry_berry_

Instagram: kerryberry5

If you would like to be featured on Confessions of a Blogger or would like to see a blogger featured here, then please email Fiona or leave a comment below.

Images: Kerry

Be Inspired, Blogging, Interviews

Confessions of a Blogger Natalie Vice

On this week on Confessions of a Blogger we chat to a wonderful blogger from Cape Town, Natalie Vice, who I am also very happy to call a friend! Natalie not only does freelance marketing and social media, runs her own blog but is also the brains behind Social Club!

My name is Natalie Vice, I’m 31 years of age and live in Devils Peak. I used to be a full time marketing manager, but now I work from home and keep myself busy with a few projects. I do freelance marketing, graphic design and interior decorating. I am in the process of starting an online shop that will sell home ware and décor items with my own illustrations on. Then I also run the Social Club which is a monthly event where people come together to socialise and learn a new skill. I love the outdoors, cooking, watching series and adventures. I’m an instagram addict and have a passion for photography, which I might pursue in the near future.

When did you start your journey as a blogger and why? I started blogging in 2012 for various reasons. I wanted to share my life adventures with friends and family. I travelled to Europe and to the Transkei and it was great to have one platform to write everything down and just tell everyone to catch up on what I have been up to on my blog. I also started the Social Club and I wanted to share our amazing nights with everyone. Since then I started a blog for Social Club events only.

If you are not blogging where will we find you? I’m quite a social butterfly if I may say so myself, but in the week I try to keep it chilled. So I cook food, watch series and sketch sometimes. My favourite Saturday activities would be to go for a run or a hike in the morning in Cape Town. Anywhere in our gorgeous city is beautiful and it just puts your head in the right space. Then I will go look for a healthy breakfast at a local city market and buy some fresh organic veggies for the upcoming week. The evenings are usually spent with my boyfriend and friends at a braai or watching a movie. Sundays were made for driving out to discover beautiful places, to eat big meals and then going home with your food baby and lounge around on the couch to watch movies for the rest of the day.

Tell us a little about your space on the interweb and what you blog about? I like to blog about everything that I am interested in, such as art, cooking, décor, DIY projects, adventures, music and travel. I just want to share all the cool discoveries that I make with everyone and I get to on my blog.
What do you think makes a blog successful? Content is important and I think if it should be interesting and something that people can relate to. Readers also appreciate honesty, so try and be real and transparent through your posts.

Being a blogger is not always easy – what motivates you and keeps you going? I can be pretty hard on myself and just try and keep myself motivated. You have to force yourself to sit down and write a post sometimes, but you feel great once you have done it, so it keeps you going.
What have your biggest blogging challenges been? Definitely finding time to write a post, I have plenty of half written posts in my blog. I have recently acquired more time, so I am determined to publish those drafts. Watch this space.
What do you love most about being a blogger? I love getting feedback from readers. Then I think: “Whaaaat somebody actually read my blog, yay!!” I love the social interaction with people Twitter and the conversations that you have with readers.
What has your journey as a blogger taught you {about yourself or in general}? Has it changed your life in any way? I find it great to write my thoughts down, it’s kind of therapeutic. It’s helped me to improve my discipline and time management. Afrikaans is my first language, so writing in English is fine, but there has been some times where I get my grammar mixed up. So I started reading more books and trying to improve my writing.

If you had to choose a favourite social media platform, what would it be and why? Twitter, as it’s such a great platform to interact with brands and people. I like following people from Cape Town as I can check what they get up to, like what restaurants, bars or markets they go to. This way I stay on top of what’s new and hot. I’ve posted questions on Twitter and have received such great feedback from strangers that you have never met, but it’s like you are all BFF’s in the Twitterverse. I was surprised by how supportive my followers were when I got retrenched and received many job opportunities through them. I also use Twitter as my news source. It’s great to catch up on a news story through the micro blogging, especially when you don’t have time to read long articles.
If you had to give a newbie blogger any advice, what words of wisdom would you impart? Be patient, stay committed, be genuine and don’t forget to have fun!

Thanks Natalie for sharing a bit more about your life and blogging journey with us! You can find out more about Natalie and connect with her here:

Blog link: www.talesundertablemountain.com / www.socialclubza.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/socialclubza

Twitter: www.twitter.com/natsnotfazed & www.twitter.com/socialclubza

Instagram: www.instagram.com/natsnotfazed & www.instagram.com/socialclubza

If you would like to be featured on Confessions of a Blogger or would like to see a blogger featured here, then please email Fiona or leave a comment below.

Images: Natalie

Be Inspired, Blogging, Interviews

Confessions of a Blogger Nikki

Today’s Confessions of a Blogger features the lovely Nikki from Between Daydreams! Although Nikki and I have never met in person, I have gotten to know her through the amazing platform that is social media!

My name is Nikki, I am a 30 year old blogger based in Cape Town. I am also mom to the adorable baby Sophie (she’s 1, not such a baby anymore) and fiancé to the always busy art director Regan.

When did you start your journey as a blogger and why? I started blogging in 2007. I had moved to Oslo, Norway and my blog became a way to keep my friends and family back home updated.
Do you blog fulltime or do you have a 9-5 as well? Blogging full time sounds like such a dream! Alas, it’s not for me. I work as a content manager. I’m so lucky to be one of the few people to do what they love. Writing is both my job and my hobby.

Tell us a little about your space on the interweb and what you blog about? I blog to document our lives as new parents and our adventures in the beautiful city we call home, Cape Town. I guess in a pinch I’d call myself a mommy & lifestyle blogger. I know the mommy blogger title often gets a bad rep, but you know, when you have a child for the first time you become obsessed with all things related to your child, clothes, lotions and potions, etc. My blog will always be a true reflection of my interests. Right now those interests are very much rooted in parenting and Cape Town and home making. I can’t promise that that will never change. As I grow, so does my blog. That’s what I love so much about blogging.
Being a blogger is not always easy – what motivates you and keeps you going? I once read that writing is not an art, it’s a need. That’s where my motivation lies. I have a need to express myself and share my success and failings and even if no one reads it, I need to get it out.

What have your biggest blogging challenges been? Posting consistently has always been, and truthfully, continues to be a challenge for me. Right now I am struggling to achieve that elusive work/life balance and my blog usually suffers. Any tips would be most welcome!
What do you love most about being a blogger? I love connecting with other bloggers, I love engaging with my readers and hearing their thoughts or sharing their experiences… Being a part of an engaging community is so rewarding.
Do you have any blog related or social media pet peeves? {things that other bloggers or social media peeps do, that really annoy you} I have only one: when bloggers host competitions and tweet: “RT to enter” when in fact they actually mean retweet, like, comment and share to enter. I feel like this is misleading. Saying “click this link to enter” uses more characters but is far more honest.
What has your journey as a blogger taught you {about yourself or in general}? Has it changed your life in any way? I’ve become much more conscious of what I do. Especially since the arrival of Sophie. I look at my life like a content manager, which experience I can turn into content for my blog. This might seem like a weird approach to life, but truthfully, it has resulted in exciting weekends and lots of wonderful memories. I also photograph and document so much of my life, every milestone has an image or video attached to it. I know that later in life, I will be really grateful for this.
If you had to give a newbie blogger any advice, what words of wisdom would you impart? Write like someone is listening. When you start blogging it can often feel like shouting into an empty room, don’t let lack of a following discourage you. Write well, write what you know, be true to yourself. Your readers will know when you’re writing something just for the sake of publishing something. Be mindful of what you say and how you say it.
In three words tell me what blogging means to you: Life lived well.

Thanks Nikki for sharing a bit more about your life and blogging journey with us! You can find out more about Nikki and connect with her here:

Blog link: www.betweendaydreams.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betweendaydreams

Twitter: @nikkilincoln

Instagram: @nikkilincoln

If you would like to be featured on Confessions of a Blogger or would like to see a blogger featured here, then please email Fiona or leave a comment below.

Images: Nikki Lincoln

Be Inspired, Blogging, Interviews

Confessions of a Blogger Telma from Glammed Up Me

I hope you are loving this interview series as much as I am! It is great getting to know so many different bloggers and find out how unique everyone’s blogging experience is! In today’s Confessions of a Blogger Telma from Glammed Up Me, shares a bit about her blogging journey, as a newbie blogger, with us.

I am Telma, mother to two princesses Christiane and Clarissa, my family and I have lived in Mother City for the past 10 years until January when we took the opportunity to work in Central West Africa (Angola). Here I work for the Oil and Gas Industry with the aim to make money and return home 🙂 I love all things pretty, such as décor ornaments, cute makeup packaging, fashion and the amazing Cape Town sunsets.

When did you start your journey as a blogger and why? I started blogging on the 25 October 2013, I have always loved reading random blogs throughout the web on beauty, fashion and other related topics for years until one day when I told myself hey why not blog too. I blog because it’s a way to show my inner creativity and help others make better choices based on my reviews.

Do you blog fulltime or do you have a regular 9-5 as well? I am an Insurance Technician for the Oil and Gas industry and blog whenever I can, basically any open time available I get I spend blogging or preparing blog posts by taking pictures, writing content and drafting.

Tell us a little about your space on the interweb and what you blog about? Glammed Up Me is my happy place where I blog about Fashion inspired outfits, Product reviews, Nail polishes and every now and then I squeeze a DIY post or a random lifestyle post. Hope to include a travel diaries series too when I start travelling more.

Being a blogger is not always easy – what motivates you and keeps you going? What motivates me and keeps me blogging is the feedback I receive from readers. It totally lights up my day to log in to my Dashboard and see a comment, like, questions, suggestions and best of all a follower. It makes every single effort worth it because at the end of the day you realize that its not just about yourself but about others that turn to your blog for inspiration or just tips on how to do things.

How important do you think it is to have a niche blog? I think it´s important because it makes the blogger set targets and not deviate from what the blog initially is about. Having a Niche helps you get better and better at what you write about, than having a whole lot of topics to focus on. It helps you set your blog on a specific category and also helps you join groups and forums where you get to meet fellow bloggers with similar interests.

What have your biggest blogging challenges been? Ok, I am still a newbie and had major problems working the HTML codes and getting my blog to look the way I want. Well honestly my blog is still not how I want it, I am saving up to buy a Etsy blog theme and after that I believe I will that will be one less of a challenge 🙂

What do you love most about being a blogger? I love meeting fellow bloggers, I have met some amazing ladies who share the same passion through blogging. I have even gained a passion I didn’t know I had in me – “Photography” each day I am mind-mapping how to take my pics and that keeps me entertained.

If you had to choose a favourite social media platform, what would it be and why? I love twitter and Instagram because you can literally interact with the brands and as well as let your readers know about your blog posts. Also all the pretty pictures give me all the inspiration I need.

What has your journey as a blogger taught you {about yourself or in general}? Has it changed your life in any way? It´s definitely taught me a lot about myself, it awoke a passion that I had dormant for a while. It taught me that having a schedule and staying committed ensures that have a proper blogging pattern! Commitment and staying focused are skills that I have acquired since I started blogging and ya most importantly I have learned so much in this 6 months and knowledge is Power.

If you had to give a newbie blogger any advice, what words of wisdom would you impart? Blogging is supposed to be fun, write about what you like and be honest. Don’t blog because of what you heard you can receive for free. It´s not about that but about what you love and what you audience like. Keep writing and be consistent, you never know where your bloggy might take ya!

Thanks Telma for sharing a bit more about your life and blogging journey with us! You can find out more about Telma and connect with her here:

Blog link: www.telmasimplelovesblog.wordpress.com

Twitter: @telmaglammedup

Instagram: @telma_glammedupme

If you would like to be featured on Confessions of a Blogger or would like to see a blogger featured here, then please email Fiona or leave a comment below.

Images: Telma Glammed Up Me

Be Inspired, Blogging, Interviews

Confessions of a Blogger Pauline from Tea in Tangiers

In today’s Confessions of a Blogger Pauline from Tea in Tangiers, tells us about her life as a designer, writer, traveller and mom. I absolutely loved reading about Paulines life and her travels, it definitely makes me want to travel more!

Hi – I’m Pauline, an interior designer and writer, originally from Cape Town but since 2003 have moved around the globe a bit living in the UK, Asia, and trying to get to Morocco as often as possible. I have two beautiful daughters, a husband who indulges my blogging whims a few cats and a dog and you will never find me travelling without a coffee pot in my suitcase – yes I really do pack a moka pot!

When did you start your journey as a blogger and why? I started blogging almost a year ago now – June 17 to be exact, I do remember because I published my first blogpost on our wedding anniversary, and as I said in that post, it is a date {apparently} suited to longevity and success, an auspicious date I would like to think . . . and part of an attempt to link up parts of my life, which is one of the driving forces behind the blog in a way! Why did I start blogging . . . well I am a writer by trade having worked for several interior and lifestyle publications over the years, as well as being an interior designer, and love morocco on all of these fronts; travel, lifestyle and design so it felt like the perfect vehicle for me to ramble on about what I love. It also was part of a decision I took to stop talking and dreaming, and start doing – so I write a lot about the blog helping me “shift the balance”, and in a way it has done that as in the course of the next 6 months we will be making it home rather than a holiday.
Do you blog fulltime or do you have a 9-5 as well? I pretty much blog full time at the moment, I do have other writing and design projects on a freelance basis but the blog is definitely part of my daily schedule. In fact if I am being honest I start experiencing blog withdrawal syndrome if I can’t check my blog and twitter feeds on a daily basis.

Tell us a little about your space on the interweb and what you blog about? We spend time in the north of Morocco, and I felt that although there was a lot to read about Marrakech, there seemed to be a lot less information floating around about Tangiers, so a gap in the market of the blogging world was calling me – plus I have a weakness for alliteration, hence the title. Some of the subjects I write about are informative about places to stay, restaurants we like, while others are more personal and some are simply visual. As I said in that first post “I am planning to enjoy and discover a little more with each visit, until the visits hopefully get longer and turn into stays.” and the exciting thing is that this shift is starting to happen so watch the blog!
Being a blogger is not always easy – what motivates you and keeps you going? The blog itself is what gives me the motivation, and the interaction with people via the blog. I enjoy working on it so it’s not a hardship, and when there are times that I am busy or need to focus on something else I do that and try not to stress. At the end of the day it’s a travel and lifestyle blog I am writing, not world peace, so if a post has to wait a week because a child is sick or a best friend is visiting, then so be it – but I must confess I hate it if I can’t check on my Facebook page and blog to start my day.
What have your biggest blogging challenges been? Finding the balance between being personal and content on a writing level, and then all the technical stuff which doesn’t come naturally to me.

What do you love most about being a blogger? That’s easy – I love the social interaction both on the blog and on Facebook and twitter. The positive comments and likes are really rewarding and I really do feel like I have ‘met’ some lovely people out there who relate to the words and images I am posting. So right from the beginning you have something in common. I also get a huge kick out of creating the posts and sourcing the images and putting it all together and knowing that I have done that all myself despite not being a technology genius on any level – but I do still get nervous every time I click on that publish button!
Do you have any blog related or social media pet peeves? {things that other bloggers or social media peeps do, that really annoy you} A few (this is where I go into grumpy old woman mode) blogs that get over personal and make me feel like I am wading through a personal therapy session are one. Blogs that are a little too self-congratulatory are another – in other words simply sharing their fabulousness, without any of the flaws. Blog posts with a title promising me untold wisdom of how to improve my blog . . . then kick off by telling me to make my content interesting (now why didn’t I think of that?!) Incorrect spelling or badly written blogs – I know there are lots of things that are grammatically incorrect about the way I write because I try and write in the same way that I speak so possibly grammar purists will find that annoying, but at least I do use the spell check!
What has your journey as a blogger taught you {about yourself or in general}? Has it changed your life in any way? I don’t think it has really changed my life, but it has definitely helped me to focus and give some direction to other projects. It has also given some structure to my day which is not always easy when freelancing.
If you had to give a newbie blogger any advice, what words of wisdom would you impart? If you want to start a blog my advice would be to just get started and enjoy it. Start off by playing around and getting it to look how you want, play around with images and have fun. You will learn as you go along. Read and subscribe to other blogs and most importantly interact, comment, like and tweet!
In three words tell me what blogging means to you: self-expression, creativity, focus.

Thanks Pauline for sharing a bit more about your life and blogging journey with us! You can find out more about Pauline and connect with her here:

Blog link: http://www.tea-in-tangiers.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teaintangiers

Twitter: https://twitter.com/teaintangiers

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/teaintangiers/

If you would like to be featured on Confessions of a Blogger or would like to see a blogger featured here, then please email Fiona or leave a comment below.

Images: Pauline