Blogger Behing the Blog {We’re Going on an Adventure}

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 Colette over at We’re Going on an Adventure.

Here’s Colette with more about her blogging life:

Where did your blog name come from?  

When Ben was really little I used to tell him we were going on an adventure – even if it was just to the local park, because it just made it more exciting.  As time went on it became our standard family code for “We’re having a day out but we’re not going to tell you where”.  It seemed to me to be the perfect name for our blog as it allows for me to write about the adventures of our lives as a family.

When did you start your blog and why?

I started my blog privately back in 2012 when I bought two ‘page a day’ diaries to write for Ben and Chlo – I wanted to record milestones and moments for them but found I just didn’t get round to picking up a pen.  I realised that typing would just be so much quicker so I googled something like “write a blog”.  It wasn’t till summer 2013 whilst pregnant with Amy that I made my blog public and started to write more regularly.

What did you do before you blogged?

I’ve been a primary school teacher since 2003.  By the time I started blogging I was working on supply as it was more flexible for my young family.  I often wonder how I spent my evenings before I blogged but I basically just watched tv, completed surveys for money and entered competitions.

What was your first post?

I’m not actually sure what my first post was about – it depends if you mean the first one I ever wrote or the first one I wrote intending to be read if that makes sense.  I took a couple of entries that I’d managed to write into the kids’ diaries, typed them up and backdated them to the dates I’d written them to keep things chronological.  I know one of my very early posts was a bit of a rant about not dressing my children in pink clothes!

What inspires you to blog?

My kids mainly but life in general I suppose.  I’ve always been quite careful not to pigeon hole myself.  I know some people really like to have a “niche” but I don’t want to limit myself.  I want to be able to write about what I want to write about, when I want to write about it.  Being a “family lifestyle” blog I guess means I can do as I please.

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 the Year 1 phonics screening which got a huge response but I can only assume I accidentally deleted it as it disappeared from my blog and I was gutted.  Having been writing for quite a few years now it’s quite hard to pick out individual posts but a favourite is probably “three is too many” or some of the posts I wrote about breastfeeding. Bizarrely my most googled post is about how to remove blu-tack from hair which always makes me laugh.

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

I spent a huge amount of time writing about SATs testing this year and I must admit I was disappointed that the post didn’t get as much of a response as I had hope.

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

Hopefully continuing to grow with us as a family!  At the moment my blog represents over half of my annual income and I would love to see that continue to increase.

What is your favourite thing about blogging?

Oh there’s so much – first and foremost that my kids have a detailed record of our lives through my words, photographs and videos.  Aside from that I’ve made some awesome friends, had some really exciting opportunities and it allows me to be at home more with my kids.

…and your least favourite? 

Hmmm, people who don’t pay invoices on time is a big bug bear of mine – especially as I then have to waste time chasing them.

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

Wow. That’s a question.  One that springs to mind is one that Jenny from The Brick Castle recently wrote for Suicide Prevention Day.

What blog do you love to read and why?

I have so many that I like to dip in and out of my Mummy Daddy Me is one I love in particular because it’s always full of such glorious photos and honest words.

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

Oh all sorts. I never thought I’d be one for video and now we upload weekly to youtube.  I’ve always been obsessed with taking photos but now I have three different cameras and always have at least one of them with me!

Is blogging what you expected it to be?  

Not at all.  I expected it to be an online diary for my children.  Not a life changing job that’s for sure!

What’s been your favourite blog collaboration to date?

I’ve had a few but I’ve loved working with Konfidence this year, my video collaboration with Sainsburys was really exciting as it was something really new for us.

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

I’d love to work with family travel brands over the coming year – we are just starting to plan our next trips and adventures and we’re hoping to take a trip abroad at some point!

Have you had any blogging fails so far?

I’ve had some pitches which I’ve spent ages writing and thought were ace but have fallen flat.  There’s been contracts which I’ve under charged for.  Photo shoots and video editing which as gone wrong.  But in reality I guess it’s all just a big learning curve isn’t it.

What is your biggest blogging hope, dream or ambition?

If you’d asked me that last year I’d have said jokingly “to get a new bed” – well that one happened!  I know Dave’s aim is for us to get a foreign press trip.  For me I’d love to continue recording our children’s’ lives whilst earning a living and picking up awesome opportunities along the way!

What do you do when you’re not blogging?

I’m never “not blogging” – it’s always there in the back of my mind, half a blog post written in the shower, a video idea planned out before I fall asleep, social media . . . I’m always blogging.

and lastly, tell us all a random fact about yourself

I’m terrified of moths.

Now that you know all about Colette from We’re Going on and Adventure, make sure you go and read her blog. You can follow her on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram – thanks so much Colette for being involved!