Blogger Behind the Blog {Spirited Puddle Jumper}

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 Becky from Spirited Puddle Jumper.

Here’s Becky with more about her blogging life:

Where did your blog name come from? When I first set up the blog, it was predominantly going to be a blog focusing on crafts and activities for little ones, so I wanted something fun and reflective of the children who might partake in any of my blog activities. Now it doesn’t particularly fit with what I write about but I just can’t seem to/don’t want to start again with a new name.

When did you start your blog and why? I had blogged under a couple of other blog names since early 2012, but this one has been going since 2013. I had been reading other parenting blogs, mainly US ones, and thought “I could have a go at this!”. I was a SAHM to two babies and wanted a creative outlet. 

What did you do before you blogged? I was a Broadcast Journalism graduate who worked in local radio (I was a travel reporter!), then celeb PR before working in The City. 

What was your first post? How to make cotton wool lambs! (aaaw)

What inspires you to blog? On a creative level, being able to have an outlet to write about anything I fancy and practice photography, it’s very therapeutic. On a personal level my kids inspire me, as they have driven me to make this a career that allows my time to be flexible and be at home a lot. 

What post has had the best response, which post are you most proud of and which post did you enjoy writing the most? I wrote a post about my love for avocado bathrooms that got a lot of love! I’m not sure if there’s one particular one that I’m proud of, but I do love publishing an interiors post that I know I’ve photographed well and that it will get a good response.

Have any of your posts not had the response that you expected? I have this Halloween Ghost Bowling game post that was also one of my first ever posts published, and it is bizarrely my most popular ever! The traffic I get from Pinterest in September and October from it means that even if I didn’t publish a single post in those months, my blog traffic would still be higher than at every other time of year. Great for if I want a proper holiday in October half term, I don’t have to lift a finger!

Where do you see your blog in a year’s time? I’d like to still be enjoying what I do, creating great content, and earning money from it. However, the influencer/blogger landscape has changed massively this past 18 months or so, what with the rise of Instagram and YouTuber so who knows? I think it’s important to still write for enjoyment- the moment that stops happening then I’ll stop blogging. 

What is your favourite thing about blogging? Ooh loads- being your own boss and essentially being in charge of your own online magazine, the creative outlet, the flexibility as a job when you’re a parent, the satisfaction of learning new skills all the time, gaining confidence through your successes, making some lovely online friends, the incredible opportunities we’ve had as a family to go to events and travel, the money…. I could go on!

…and your least favourite? Wobbles of self-doubt due to the perceived idea that bloggers are grabby wankers and that we’re all selling our souls to the devil in exchange for baby wipes, paint samples and toddler snacks. I still find it weird knowing that people I know read my blog and my thoughts, still strange even with lovely school mum friends! I also dislike STILL getting numerous emails basically wanting me to work for free/hand over rights to photos for free, they still grate on me even though I should be used to them by now and should ignore!

What’s the best blog post you have ever read? I genuinely can’t answer this one- there have been so many great ones over the years. 

What blog do you love to read and why? I love to read Alice Judge-talbot’s blog ‘More Than Toast‘- it was one of the first UK ones I started reading and she just writes so well. One of the few people that could make a really dull sponsored post subject matter fabulously interesting!

Do you do anything differently now to when you started blogging? I’m more guarded about writing about my older two children now they’re at school and they may or may not thank me down the line for valuing their privacy more, especially now I have a bigger audience. 

Is blogging what you expected it to be? Not all at! I had no idea this would ever become a job, and a brilliant one at that, or that it would kind of take over my life!

What’s been your favourite blog collaboration to date? Oh goodness, there are several. I love working with The Great Little Trading Co and we’ve been on their testing team for a few years now, such a great company to work with and so generous with their time and give you so much free-rein creatively. I enjoyed taking over the Laura Ashley Instagram recently and the response it got, and shooting for the Virgin Trains summer campaign last year was a big moment. Going skiing with Mark Warner was a dream come true too. It’s not always big brands though- I enjoy championing smaller ones too and helping them become acquainted with the way influencers work. 

Are there any brands you would love to work with, why? There are a few travel ones I would love to work with one day, and I would LOVE to work with a car company. 

Have you had any blogging fails so far? Oh probably loads- pitches that are ignored, cameras not functioning at crucial moments, being drunk and probably obnoxious at a blogging awards event whilst sharing a table with a potential client (and my category sponsor). Thankfully nothing that couldn’t be salvaged though!

What is your biggest blogging hope, dream or ambition? To carry on enjoying what I do and continue to make money from it. I’d quite like to win an award of some kind having been a finalist several times but I don’t think I’m niche enough- jack of all trades, master of none here!

What do you do when you’re not blogging? Hanging out with my husband and 3 children, seeing friends, photography, writing a series of children’s picture books, adding the finishing touches to our renovated home, cooking for fun, online shopping… I should probably do something more altruistic but with a non-sleeping baby, right now I’m knackered!

and lastly, tell us all a random fact about yourself My next door neighbour is the lady who played Justine in Grange Hill (and she’s ace!) She buys the kids birthday cards, puts up with our noisy brood and I still think all the time “OMG I used to watch you on the telly every tea time!”  

Now that you know all about Becky from Spirited Puddle Jumper, make sure you go and read her blog. Make sure you follow her on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram too. Thanks so much Becky for being involved!