Good morning folks. It’s been a hot minute since I did a Q&A around here where the questions came from actual people on Twitter and my blog followers have grown quite considerably since then. So if you’re new around here, first of all, hi! I’m so glad you could join us and second of all, here’s a little bit more about me and I’ll try and make my answers as interesting as possible but I can’t promise anything.
How did you get into blogging?
So I started as just a book blogger and I got into blogging after searching for a review of a book I’d just read and finding a few on these things called “blogs”. I swiftly fell down a rabbit hole of book blogs and was amazed at what these people did and really wanted to give it a go myself. So I emailed one of the blogs I was reading and she very kindly helped me set my own blog up and gave me some advice. And here we are, 5 years later!
If you could travel anywhere in the world where would it be?
There’s a few places on my radar that I really want to go to right now but I think at the top of my list at the moment would be Helsinki.
What are three things that are on your bucket list?
I don’t really keep a bucket list – I used to but it made me more miserable than anything else haha! But obviously there are some things I’d love to do in my life; I’d love to go to the 24 Hours of Le Man race, attend a book fair and go on a Yoga retreat (which I can actually tick off next month!)
Would you ever consider writing a book?
I have actually attempted to write a book twice now! Both fiction, the first one I actually wrote about 70 thousand words and then scrapped the entire thing because I thought it was crap and made me cringe to even read back. The second one however I still have, I’ve wrote about 20k and I still really like the premise so I’m keeping that safe just in case. However it’s so difficult and I honestly don’t think writing fiction is for me.
If you weren’t a blogger, what would be your dream job?
Oh gosh! My dream job has changed so much throughout my life from hairdresser, police officer to fitness instructor. It’s safe to say I won’t be achieving any of those particular dreams anymore but honestly, I love blogging so much and I wouldn’t want to give it up and I don’t want for much so my dream job would be to own and run a bookshop to be honest! Just an independent one which I could make entirely my own. That’d make me very happy.
If you wrote an autobiography what would the title be? And if it was made into a film, who would play you?
From cocktails and epic fails to tea and anxiety: An autobiography would be my title! Who would play me? Goodness, well first of all I cannot imagine this film making the big bucks at the cinema, can you? If I’m dreaming big, someone like Jessica Chastain but if I’m being realistic, maybe Anna Kendrick.
Where do you see yourself in a year’s time?
I don’t even like looking forward to next week, let alone next year! Honestly, not looking ahead too much and focusing on the moment or at the very most, the day is what’s helped me with my anxiety over the last 6 or so years so when it comes to long-term goals and plans, I really don’t have any. All I can hope for is that in a year’s time, I’m content with whatever I’m doing, that my family and my dog are here and healthy and that I’ve had some good experiences.
Who is your all-time favourite author / all-time favourite book?
I think my all-time favourite book would have to be The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (who would also come under one of my favourite authors) but some other books I’d also consider favourites are The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson-Walker, Looking for Alaska by John Green, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, I Am the Messenger also by Markus Zusak and Wild by Cheryl Strayed. I love everything John Green writes and Claire Douglas is my favourite Thriller author.
What are three things that blogging has taught you about yourself that you never expected to learn?
Blogging has taught me that I’m quite business minded which I wasn’t really aware of before because I’d never been in a situation where I’ve needed to be. It also taught me that I’m very, very dedicated to something I love and finally, it’s taught me how to be Monica Geller style organised. I’ve never been a messy or disorganized person but blogging has really allowed me to refine my organisational skills, find strategies that really work and offer advice to other people too!
What inspires you most in life?
I think other people inspire me the most. I love seeing other people success, hearing success stories and especially from people who have been through hardships or worked their way up from scratch. There’s success around every corner, so I allow that to motive and inspire me even if I’m not in a very good head space.
What is the one quote you feel everyone should live by?
I’m a huge quote person and I constantly find myself searching for the perfect quote on Pinterest. I’ve always been that person to turn over the pages of books with my favourite quotes on. Some that I think offer important advice and that everyone should live by – at least every once in a while – are:
“The sun will rise and we will try again”: to me, this suggests that not every day will be perfect and things will go wrong but there’s always a chance to try again.
“The past is heavy, make sure you put it down every once in a while”: I actually made this one up as a variation of something else but I love it and it reminds me to just let go of the baggage. It’s not serving me.
“You are entirely up to you”: This is probably my favourite of the bunch. It’s beautiful and so true.
What have been your favourite blogging achievements so far?
Oooh so many! Blogging is the main (and sometimes only…) thing I’m ever proud of. Making a solid income from my blog for multiple months has got to be a favourite of course! Getting to the point where I made more from blogging than I did in my previous job was amazing. Hitting 10k on Twitter is something I thought I’d never reach and working with so many incredible brands. I think blogging is so incredibly rewarding, from the little goals all the way up to the big achievements so it’s something I’d always encourage people to do if they’re thinking about it!
[…] last general Q&A I did was back in October (although I did do a Disney themed one which was really fun) and my […]
[…] last general Q&A I did was back in October (although I did do a Disney themed one in November which was really fun) […]
I love Q&As and learning more about the bloggers I read all the time. It’s strange how we can know so much yet so little about each other! I’m always in awe of how much you have achieved through blogging!
Abi | https://whatabigailsays.co.uk/
That’s very true! I love Q&A’s for the same reason 🙂 xxx
So interesting to read these posts.
Ohh a yoga retreat sounds so good!
http://littlemissmelanie.com
I can’t wait for it!
Q&A’s are some of my favourite posts to read! It’s so nice to find out more about you. I’d love to visit Helsinki too! xx
Tiffany x http://www.foodandotherloves.co.uk
Thank you 🙂 Helsinki looks beautiful!
Love get to know you posts like this xz
Thank you 🙂
Anna Kendrick is such a good choice!
Thanks, I love her!
Your an amazing blogger 😍
Thanks so much!
Loved reading this! It’s so interesting that you have that book just sat there. If I could go anywhere right now, I’m honestly not sure where I’d end up. I’m probably going to be thinking about that all night now… As for dream job, if anyone would care to bankroll my restaurant dreams, that would be great… I’m not asking for much 😂😂😂
Sophie
http://www.glowsteady.co.uk
Haha you owning a restaurant would be amazing! Open it up next to my book shop 😂
I loved reading your answers. I would love to attend a yoga retreat at some point in time. They look like such an incredible experience!
Britt | http://alternativelyspeaking.ca
Thank you 🙂 I can’t wait for it!
Ah I love love blog posts like this (probably because I’m so nosey!) I had no idea you’ve tried to write a book twice! I’d also love to visit Helsinki and completely relate to having changed my dream career multiple times lol! Great post x
http://www.whatevawears.co.uk
Yep! They didn’t go well 😂
JENNY!You just never fail to inspire me with everything that you do!I loved this Q&A!
Thanks so much 😌
Brilliant post, Jenny. I love learning more about fellow bloggers, these Q&A posts are so interesting. And I love your new header x
Thanks so much! 😌😌
I love reading posts like this. Helps get to know you! My favorite thing has to be what inspires you. You sound like an incredible human being. Not often in today’s world we find people who care about other’s success. Best of luck in everything you do! And you’ll finish that book 🙂
Awh thanks ever so much that’s such a lovely comment 😌😌
Such an enjoyable read! Very fresh and full of energy. Definitely feels like I know you. Felt like a chat over coffee!
Awh I’m so glad! 😌😌
Can’t believe you scrapped the 70k manuscript 🙈 noooooooooooooooooo. I bet it was much better than you thought. We are our own harshest critics. Great post!
We really are but I couldn’t bare it. 😂
Aw, this is such a lovely post! You are one of my favourite bloggers (and online friends!) so I always love finding out more about you. Your adapted quote, “The past is heavy, make sure you put it down every once in a while”, is fab. I think it’s so relatable. I hope you get to Helskini – didn’t I read somewhere that your ancestors are Scandinavian? I bet you’d write an awesome post about that. And I can’t wait to read your Yoga Retreat post in due course either 🙂 xx
Lisa | http://www.lisasnotebook.com
Yes you did! I can’t remember what post I mentioned that in but I definitely did. Mostly Norwegian but I’d love to visit all of Scandinavia! xxx
I always wanted to open a bookshop with old books that had a small cafe inside, specialising in cupcakes and I wanted to call it ‘Cupcakes & Cauldrons’. So people could browse the books & sit and have a cupcake and drink. I still love the name! 🙂 x
That sounds literally perfect! 😌
I hear you on fiction writing – it’s tough! I have a short novel I self-published to Amazon but I almost never advertise it because it’s cringe-worthy to read so many years later.
Oh no! Maybe you should start writing again 😌
Every time I read one of your Q&A posts I learn something new about you, and I love it! I would also LOVE to run a bookstore – we should go into business together haha, although I’m fairly certain we’d both end up just reading books all day! I’m so looking forward to hearing about your yoga retreat too, you’re going to have such a good time!
Beth x
Haha sounds like a plan! God it’d be the DREAM! I’m so excited for my retreat I really am! 😌
I absolutely love Markus Zusak! Also, I would love to hear about how the yoga retreat goes, I have always wanted to go on one too 🙂
I’ll definitely be blogging about the Yoga retreat! Markus Zusak can do NO WRONG in my opinion 😂
Yay! I completley agree 😂
Helsinki sounds like such a great idea! Finland is defo on my travel bucket list too! I have tried to write a book too but I have been to lazy, although I have been thinking to write again! True that my dream job has changed so much!
You should give it another go 🙂 sometimes the timing just isn’t quite right xxx
I absolutely love these kinds of posts as it’s such a great way to get to know the person behind the blogger! Your upcoming yogo retreat sounds so amazing and I would also love to own my own bookstore (or afternoon tea shop!) one day! xx
http://www.imjustagirl16.co.uk
An afternoon tea shop sounds so cute! A tea / book shop combined! 🙌🏻 xxx
Oooh Helsinki happens to be on my bucket list!
Love, Amie ❤
The Curvaceous Vegan
I’d absolutely love to go!
“The sun will rise…” is one of my favourite quotes ever too. I find a lot of solace in it when I’m having a bad day, because I’m big on the power of resetting things and like to do that by looking forward to the next day. Totally agree that blogging is making me more organised too, it’s the only way I make it fit around everything else in my life! Awesome post 🙂
Megan // https://pixieskiesblog.wordpress.com/
I totally agree, I often go to that quote when I’m having a bad day 🙂
Great post – I’d love to write a book! x
http://www.ofbeautyandnothingness.co.uk
Thank you 🙂
This is a fab Q&A 🙂
You’re doing amazingly, it’s incredible what you’ve achieved in just five years.
Cora | http://www.teapartyprincess.co.uk/
Thank you 🙂 I need to remind myself that too!
I have to say I’m so impressed that you started this blog as a little old book blog and look at you go!
Haha yep! Long time ago now 🙂
This was so awesome !!! I love the quotes you shared 🙂 xx
Thank you 🙂 I love the quotes too!
I love reading things like this – although if I could go anywhere in the world right now it would be Disney! x
Oh same! I’d never pass up an opportunity to go to Disney! x