Blogger Behind the Blog {Beauties and the Bibs}

Here’s this week’s instalment of Blogger Behind the Blog where I interview a blogger all about their reasons for blogging and what it means to them. This week I’m joined by Jessica from Beauties and the Bibs.

Here’s Jessica with more about why she blogs:

Where did your blog name come from?

When I first started my blog I was thinking about my niche. I wanted to do beauty and also parenting and child related blogging. My friend’s partner was bouncing a few ideas around then he said what about Beauties and the Bibs. Straight away I loved it .

When did you start your blog and why?

I started my blog in March this year. At the start of my maternity leave I was becoming very lonely. After talking to my friend who is also a blogger I thought I would give it a go. She explained both the opportunities and the community it has opened her up to.

What did you do before you blogged?

Before blogging I was a full time nursery manager and I started my maternity leave in November ready for my daughter to arrive.

What was your first post?

My first post was this one. I spoke about how things went completely unexpected when it came to the birth of my daughter.

What inspires you to blog?

General life. Having a child can be a fun but also scary place. So I like to express how I am feeling at that particular time. If I help someone in the process going through the same thing, then that’s a bonus.

What post has had the best response, which post are you most proud of and which post did you enjoy writing the most?

Recently I have written two posts about children starting nursery. What to ask at a show around and also how to cope with the first couple of days. I have had some great feedback that people have said they will take the information into consideration.

I really enjoyed writing them as I got to use both hats, my parenting hat and also my work hat. You can read the posts here and here.

Have any of your posts not had the response that you expected?

Not that I can think of, I’m still amazed that people are reading them at all.

Where do you see your blog in a year’s time?

Hopefully still going and continuing to share my experiences of being a parent both the ups and the downs.

What is your favourite thing about blogging?

The thought that a post you have written may help someone. Whether it is because I have supplied them with information they didn’t know. Or because I have made them feel normal as I am experiencing the same as them.

…and your least favourite?

People’s response that it must be great to get all this free stuff. They don’t understand the amount of work goes into a post to get it the way I like it.

What’s the best blog post you have ever read?

Gosh there are so many it’s really hard to pick. I do remember reading my friends post before I even started blogging about her journey through IVF and PCSO and it really made me emotional.

What blog do you love to read and why?

I love to read Aby’s blog. As if I am ever stuck on anything I can use her page as a reference guide for anything. I just love the way she writes it all making it all seem so simple.

Do you do anything differently now to when you started blogging?

I started blogging on a Blogger platform. I have recently gone self-hosted and loving the freedom you can have to create your own little space on the net.

Is blogging what you expected it to be?

Gosh no, it’s so much more work than I ever expected. At times it can be like a full time job. I wouldn’t change it though I get great enjoyment from it. It’s also stopping my brain turning into mush whilst on maternity leave.

What’s been your favourite blog collaboration to date?

I really don’t know. I’m just so grateful that others give me to opportunity to collaborate with them.

Are there any brands you would love to work with, why?

I would love to work with Silver Cross. We purchased one of their pushchairs for my daughter and we love it. The reason we picked this brand is because my mom had a Silver Cross for me when I was little so wanted to carry it on with my daughter.

What is your biggest blogging hope, dream or ambition?

One day I would love to go along to BML. I have come across some amazing people in the short time I have been blogging. I would love to meet them face to face and learn more from them.

What do you do when you’re not blogging?

At the moment I am a full time mommy to my daughter Ava. I am due to go back to work in January where I am a nursery manager.

And lastly, tell us all a random fact about yourself

When I was little I believed that my toys came to life at night. So would be petrified to go to the toilet at night just in case they ran after me.

Now that you know all about Jessica from Beauties and the Bibs, make sure you go and read her blog. You can follow her on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram – thanks so much Jessica for being involved!