Last, but not least

I know it’s been a week or so, but finishing up my Mini Series on blog interviews is Kristin from A Mother’s Work is Never Done.  She’s a mom of two girls and we go way back, like Kindergarten….she’s my IRL blogger friend and a former teacher and shares her blogging tips and mommy advice with you. Enjoy.

1. Why did you start blogging?
I started blogging back in 2007 when my older daughter was almost a year old.  I’m a SAHM and I turned to blogging to have a connection to the outside world.  At that time I had no idea that blogging was such a big thing and I certainly had no idea that there was such a huge community of mom bloggers.  Ultimately I started blogging to keep my creative juices flowing now that I was no longer working outside of the home.

2. What do you love about your blog?
I love that my blog is a total reflection of me.  It’s not super fancy or flashy, and neither am I.  I don’t sugar coat anything or beef anything up.  It is what it is.  I don’t stress about blogging.  I write because I enjoy it and I hope that others will get some enjoyment from it.

3. If you had to start all over, would you do anything differently and if so, what?
I don’t think I’d do anything differently.  I love the way everything has fallen in to place.  I never intended to be where I am today with my blog.  I’m always amazed at how many hits per day I receive. It’s very flattering.  I’m very happy and content with the way my blog looks and with my readership.  I only hope that I can keep up with it all!

4. What’s one piece of advice you’d give to a rookie blogger?
Just be honest and have fun.  Don’t stress about how your blog looks or how many readers you have.  That takes all of the fun out of it.  Be yourself and readers will come.

5. What’s something you wish you knew about being a mom that no one told you?
Kids are stubborn.  Once they make up their minds that they’re not going to do something there is no way of making them do it.  There are a lot of things that you can make a kid do, but there are also a few that you just can’t make them do – eat, sleep, and use the bathroom on cue.  Sometimes you think a certain thing will be easy, but it might turn out to be the hardest thing you have ever had to conquer.

6. If your kid wants to try a sip of your beer/wine/favorite drink, will you let them?
It depends on the circumstance and their age.  I remember trying sips of my grandfather’s beer when I was probably 5 or 6.  I’m not saying that it was right, but it’s sort of a fond memory.  Maybe because my grandfather was such an important person to me.  But I don’t know if I’ll let either of my girls try beer or wine at that age.  Probably not.  I just don’t see any reason for it.  When my girls are older, in their teens or something, then maybe I would.  It’s really hard to say.  I guess I’ll have to wait and see what happens when the time comes.  I’ll get back to you…

7. What’s your favorite guilty pleasure TV show?
Hmmm.  It used to be Jersey Shore.  I know, I know.  I got soo hooked on that for some reason.  My husband plays volleyball on Thursday nights and I’d be home alone.  Not much was on that sparked my interest and one night I turned it on after hearing all this buzz about it being controversial.  Then I couldn’t stop watching it.  It was like a train wreck.  I talked so many people into watching it, including my husband.  I miss it, but I’m not sure I’ll watch the new season when it comes on.

8. What’s your viewpoint on vacation with kids/babies? Will they go? Stay? Recommend your favorite vacation spot.
My husband and I have an plan (well maybe it’s more of a dream) to take two vacations per year – one with the kids, one without.  We’re more of the camping/exploring type of family than the tropical beach type.  We’ll probably do lots of traveling and exploring within the US with the kids and save the more exotic (and expensive) trips for just the two of us.

9. Tell me about your favorite pair of shoes or purse or other must have clothing item?
I’m not a big shoe or purse person.  I like to keep it simple.  My favorite pair of shoes are my Reef flip flops.  I wear them all summer long.  They’re the most comfortable things ever.  I never wear heels and never understood the appeal of expensive shoes.  To me, if they’re not comfortable, then what’s the point in wearing them.  As for a purse, I don’t carry one.  I carry a diaper bag and a Vera Bradley wristlet which holds my cash (when I have any), my license and my bank card.

10. If you could give a blogger one piece of advice, what would you say?
Write the truth.  Don’t write what you *think* people want to read because you don’t know what they want to read.  Oh, and you can’t make everyone happy, so don’t try.  There will be people who criticize what you say no matter what it is.

Tagged as: guest blogging