The Interview Series






Interview 12

Lincolnshire Greyhound Trust- Charity

Hello everyone and welcome back to our interview series! This is our 12th and final interview. We hope you enjoy it! We usually do interviews with youtubers or bloggers but for December we decided to interview a charity that we both work with and support. Since it is December and christmas is just around the corner we thought we would do our bit to help promote the charity. So without further ado lets introduce, 'Lincolnshire Greyhound Trust' which is run by the Stow family and team full of volunteers. So, we interviewed Kevin Stow who is apart of the LGT.






Hello Kevin, Firstly we'd like to know what was your inspiration to start Lincolnshire Greyhound Trust?  

 We brought home Sky when she finished racing and were asked to help with sponsorships, home visits for the national organisation before agreeing to set up a branch of the Retired Greyhound Trust (RGT) in December 1998. We were a branch until May 2004 when we became a registered charity in our right.
That's great how many greyhounds have you rehomed since starting?  

 We have rehomed 1,611 different greyhounds since December 1998.

Greyhound Racing has quite a few opinions but do you work with the trainers or against? 

 We work with trainers as I feel you can achieve better results that way and I genuinely believe most trainers care about their dogs and want what is best for them.
Couldn't agree anymore so does LGT rehome or rescue greyhounds?  

 Most of the time we rehome as we take from owners or trainers who trust us to find their dogs better homes than they can, however occasionally we do have to rescue a greyhound from a pet home.

It is great that these wonderful dogs are being rehomed into great homes, they are loved all through their lives! What activities does LGT do to fund money for the charity and is there a way people can donate from reading this interview?  

 We are always out and about promoting them as pets and raising funds, but we also run a weekly lottery, get donations from people and are always looking for funds. All the money we raise goes to help the greyhounds. We do ask for a minimum £100 donation from new owners as a way to help funds, but also show a commitment on their part that they have thought about things. We also go out on street collections and let the public meet the greyhounds looking for homes, they can see themselves how lovely they are. Our new website is www.lincolnshiregreyhoundtrust.co.uk and there is information on there.

What is the procedure of rehoming a Greyhound? (From the moment they come into you care)  

 When they come into our care we get them spayed or castrated if they aren't already done and get their teeth checked and any dental work done. We ensure they have an up to date vaccination record. We then look after them until we can find the right home for the right greyhound. When we get e-mail or call we speak to the prospective owners on the phone and arrange a home visit and answer any questions they may have as well as pointing out the good and bad points that owning a greyhound (or any dog) may bring.
We can see it is important that the right greyhound is paired up with the right owners. Why do Greyhounds make great pets?

 Greyhounds are great as they can fit into all types of homes:
they are very lazy, chilled and don't need masses of exercise so can live with the elderly.
they are very tolerant so if parents are responsible they can live happily with children
they sleep a lot so we would consider rehoming to people that work full time providing they can split the day


We agree they fit into families so much! Can Greyhounds live with cats and small animals and dogs?  

 We 'cat test' our greyhounds and around 2 or 3 out of 10 pass and with training could live happily with cats. The figure is much higher in terms of living with other dogs, but in all cases, new owners have to be responsible and introduce carefully.

Would you say by owning a retired greyhound you step into one big community?  

 some people certainly say greyhound ownership is a cult and certainly at LGT we try and encourage a community spirit. We have a very active facebook chat page, do regular events and try and encourage our owners to get involved if they wish.
Sounds great, what is the best thing about working with Greyhounds and rehoming them? 

 Greyhounds don't judge you in the same way many people do so if you look after them, feed them, care for them they'll more than repay the time and cost involved. It is lovely to see them go off into new homes and then hear the stories and see the pictures of them there and how they have made their owners so happy.

 Wow, we can see so much effort goes into making sure each greyhound is loved and goes to the right home where the love can carry on. Thank you so much Kevin for taking the time to answer a few questions. If you would like to know more about the Lincolnshire Greyhound Trust (LGT) or more about rehoming greyhounds then below is the charities website and social media links. (Just click the link and it will direct you to the page)

New Website: https://www.lincolnshiregreyhoundtrust.co.uk/rehomed-dogs
Old Website: http://community.lincolnshire.gov.uk/lincolnshiregreyhoundtrust/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LincsGreyhounds
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LincolnshireGreyhoundTrust/?hc_ref=ARSvwqxXevNPnET3btVX3LXGNF3aQI78BH4OnJguJw8x5b2RwumrJBJySPwc1s6VoGo&fref=nf
Forum: http://lincsgreyhounds.proboards.com

 Thank you for taking the time to read our blog and this interview. It means so much to us. Thank you again, Kevin, for taking part in our interview series we had so much fun learning more about the LGT Charity. We would like to take this time also to thank all 12 people who have been apart of this series for 2017, we will not be carrying it on in 2018. We had so much fun so thank you for all the great feedback.

2 Peas In A Pod Blog
AKA: Jade & Lydia




Interview 11
Jade Millard - Blogger

 Hello everyone! Welcome back to our Interview series on our blog! This is the 11th installment of our interview series. This months interview is with the lovely blogger Jade Millard, We hope you enjoy this interview and thank you so much for Jade for being apart of our interview series!


Hey Jade, We loved your blog post ‘A Day Trip To Dover’ it looks such a pretty
place, what’s your favourite part of Dover?

 My favourite part of Dover has to be the walk that I went on with my uncle along the cliffs. They are what the place is notorious for, and I just felt so relaxed, and at ease when I visited! It's such a pretty, picturesque seaside town, and I do love to be beside the seaside.

 It sounds lovely. You recently finished your GCSE’s, how did you manage your blog and
school work?

 I'm not going to lie, managing a blog and school work can be a challenge at the best of times. I knew that I had to put my studies first, and everybody around me agreed, because you only really get one proper shot at them. I would revise everyday, and every evening (or, as much as I could anyway!), but after that, I would dedicate some time to my blog, whether that be the writing, or the photography aspect of it. It's all about time management, so you could do school work, and revision for 1 hour, take a half hour break to take blog photos, then do another hour of study, and then take an hour to write up the post. Try to come up with some sort of rough plan, or schedule, as that's what really helped me, but don't put too much pressure on yourself. You'll have the whole Summer to relax, and blog without any pressure of GCSES!

 That is a really good way of organising your time! You have already crossed off a lot on your bucket list, what was your favourite thing that you have crossed off so far?

 Bucket lists are such a cool thing to have, so if you don't already have one, I definitely think you should make one! Hmmm, my favourite thing that I've ticked off so far would probably have to be seeing The 1975 in concert last December!  It honestly feels like ages ago, but it was genuinely one of the best nights of my entire life, and I'd relive it over, and over again if I could. 

 We love your photographs that you have taken, especially on you blog post ‘A New Project In The Pipeline’, what started your interest in photography?

 Thank you so much for your kind words! I've had a passion for photography for a couple of years now, but I'm actually not too sure what started it. I think it's because I used to see a lot of sunsets, and I just found them pretty, and wanted to visually capture moments, and memories, so that kind of kickstarted a new hobby! I now take pictures of places I go, things I see, experiences that I have, and anything else that I can think of too. It's even more special knowing I can share it all on my blog.

 You have a lot of different lip products/lipsticks, but what is your all time favourite lip product/lipstick?

 Ooooh, what a tricky question! I guess it depends on the time of year, but I'm pretty certain that my favourite lipstick is Velvet Teddy by MAC. It's just such a classic shade, and one that you really can't go wrong with!

 We love that one too! Many People are afraid to post personal content on their blog? Do you have any advice?

 Your blog is your blog, and yours only. It's your place to write about whatever your heart desires, and nobody else should have an opinion on that, because it isn't for me to pass judgement, or criticism! If you are happy with posting personal content, because you find it to be an outlet, or a release, then you do you! Post anonymously to start off with if you feel more comfortable doing so, or just don't tell anybody in your personal life about your blog. 

 Great advice! It’s clear to see that you love The 1975, but, from your blog post ‘Top 10 Songs: The 1975’ which is your ultimate favourite of the 10?

 My favourite song from The 1975 is Robbers, without a doubt! Even before I saw them in concert, I was obsessed with that song for the longest time, and I just constantly had it on repeat. Seeing them play it live just made me love it even more! I'm not too sure what it is, but it's just got a soft spot in my heart.

 It's a very good song! What would you say makes your blog stand out?

 I think that makes my blog stand out is the fact that I'm not afraid to talk about taboos, or less socially acceptable topics. It's literally like an extension of my mind, and my personality! One day, I can talk about my favourite eyeshadow palette, whereas a couple of days later, I can talk about relationships, and heartbreak! What you see is what you get on my blog, and I'm happy to keep things real and brutally honest.

 That's the best way, just being yourself! On your Bucket List your first thing on there is Write a book, what genre would you write about, and why?

 If I were to write a book, it would probably be a collection of poetry, or short stories, because I'm an aspiring poet! I don't mean that in the fact that I want to pursue it as a career, but it's something that I want to work on at the side, because I'm super psssionate about it. I just find it easy to express myself, and it helps me to understand myself better, and help others if I write about my thoughts, and experiences.

 That sounds really good! Lastly, what was the thing that inspired you to start your blog?

 I guess I was inspired to start a blog by everyone around me! I was watching a lot of YouTube, and reading a lot of blogs at the time, and I just had that gut feeling that it was something I wanted to do. I didn't know where to begin, but I knew that if I wanted it to work, then I could do just that - and look where we are now! Admittedly, a friend who I was close to back then did have to give me a push, but I'm so glad she did, as otherwise I may not be where I am today.
Jade's social links:
Twitter and Instagram : @simplyjadeyx

Thank you so much Jade for agreeing to be apart of this series, and answering our questions! We hope you all enjoyed this interview and thank you for reading. And, thank you again Jade!

2 Peas In A Pod Blog
AKA: Jade & Lydia


Interview 10




Abbie Jenkins

     



Hello It's 2 Peas In A Pod Blog Here, \





Hello everyone! Welcome back to our Interview Series here on our blog! This is our 10th instalment, this year has gone so quick. This months interview is with the lovely Abbie Jenkins from the youtube channel Life Of Abbie Jenkins. We hope you enjoy this interview, and thank you so much Abbie for being part of this series!

    Hey Abbie, We absolutely love your YouTube channel, what inspired you to start it?

Ever since I was 9, I wanted to have a youtube channel. I watched many popular youtubers including Zoella and Tanya Burr. I wanted to do what they did as they inspired me so much. I used to practise filming videos in my mirror and plan out videos in my old notebooks. All I wanted was a youtube channel. One day I finally convinced to my Mum to let me get a channel. My first videos were badly filmed vlogmas videos (which are now on private) but I am still proud of those videos and my determination in my channel.

 We really like your video ‘My CD collection’ what is your favourite CD you own and why?

I love all my CD’s are I listen to most of them on a regular basis. Therefore, my favourite album is always changing. As many of my viewers know, I listen to country music. My favourite album at the moment is “Pageant Material” by Kacey Musgraves. It has amazing songs with such deep meaning. I love it!

 Sweet, On your channel you put up a vlog of when you saw Panic! At The Disco, what was your favourite part?

Again, this is a super difficult question to answer but hearing my favourite songs “This Is Gospel” and “LA Devotee” was such a great moment in that trip. They have a lot of meaning to me and I ended up crying.

.    Would you see them again?

Yes! My mum is planning on getting us tickets for their next tour. I’m pretty sure she is more excited than I am.

    That's great, You have a few Lush haul videos, but, if you had to pick one product from Lush what would it be?

I feel like I haven’t been visiting Lush as often know because their prices have gone up a lot. However, comforter will always be one of my go to products. The scent is so lovely and it is super soft on my skin. I can usually get about 6 uses out of it.

      The comfortor is Jade's favourite, We find it really hard to stick with New Years Resolutions, You picked good resolutions in your video ‘My 2017 Resolutions’ have you kept to them all so far?

For the post part, I have stuck to my resolutions. I reached many of my social media milestones, I have been reading SO MUCH MORE and I have tried to become more positive in what I do. However, I am still struggling to keep up with school work as I have many clubs that I attend after school. My channel suffered a bit because of this, but I am slowly getting back on my feet. 

      What was the favourite thing you got for Christmas last year that featured in your video ‘What I Got For Christmas 2016’?

My favourite thing would have to be my guitar amp. It has come in so handy and I use it all the time. I never realised how much it would improve the sound of my playing.

     Great, We loved the videos that you did of Halloween makeup, which was your favourite look and why?

The vampire look I did in my Halloween GRWM video was probably my favourite. It was my first time using sfx in a tutorial and it went well. Many people loved it and asked for further information on the look.

The makeup look you did in your video ‘Easy Valentines Makeup Look’ but what is your favourite makeup product and why?

The Seventeen stay time concealer has been my best friend this year. For the longest time I didn’t think anything think anything would beat my Collection lasting perfection. However, this concealer beats it in my book.

      Aswell as having a YouTube you also have a blog, how do you manage both at the same time?

It is difficult. I usually find that I will be more active on one than the other. My viewers and readers are very understanding of that and let me take my time. I would recommend pre-filming and pre-writing so that you have content ready even when you are struggling.                

Love it, Lastly, what advice would you give people that want to start a youtube?

Just go for it! Starting something new is always going to be scary. Don’t worry about people from school finding it. Kids can be mean sometimes but most the time all I get is support from my classmates. Have fun and post whatever makes you happy. Don’t force out content just for the views.

Message From Abbie: Thank you so much for interviewing me on your wonderful blog. It has been such an honour xx

Well that is a wrap from Abbie Jenkins, thank you so much for participating in our interview series, it means a lot to us. Be sure to check out Abbie's youtube channel by looking at the links below. Thank You again Abbie. Make sure you come back next month to read an interview series with an amazing blogger. 


Social Links
Youtube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAwkwYT1BB865Qt8Cz0nErA
Music channel- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdn1K7jKCzT52IlXTCGaIKg?
Instagram- @lifeofabbiejenkins
Twitter- @abbiejenkinssss



Interview 9
Brianna Woodvine - Blogger
Hello It's 2 Peas In A Pod Blog Here!
Hello everyone! Welcome back to our Interview Series here on our blog! This is our 9th installment, this year has gone so quick. This months interview is with the lovely Brianna Woodvine. We hope you enjoy this interview, and thank you so much Brianna for being part of this series!

Hello Brianna! We’ve read your blog for a while now, and we love it. But what is the main thing that you love about your blog?
Ooo, the main thing that I love the most about my blog is the ability for me to be me and get away from all of the negativity online. I love to make my posts as positive as I can and I just love all of my followers and the people who read it!

What was it that really inspired you to start your blog?

I was inspired to start my blog from other bloggers I had found online and thought it was something I would really enjoy doing. I really enjoy photography which I thought I could incorporate with it!

When you went to the Christmas Fair last year before Christmas, it looked like you had a great time. What was the best part at the fair?

Ooo, honestly I LOVE everything christmassy! The fair was incredible and I loved the genuine happy atmosphere around the market. I went with my best friend and it really helped me after I had a really bad week. It was just a good thing to get away from it all. I also loved trying the free food! ;)

It sounds amazing! What’s your greatest achievement that has happened to you and your blog since you started?
One of my biggest achievements with my blog is probably, getting it out there and noticed by people. I now have a large audience who read it and follow me on social medias which makes me really happy!

That's a really good achievement you've achieved. You have a very busy year ahead of you, what is your main goal for your blog this year?

Aside from all my upcoming exams, I would LOVE to have posts for my blog scheduled and ready to post more often. This will be a tricky year for me, balancing school, life and blogging all as one but I think blogging will help me de-stress from it all. My biggest goal would be to become more consistent with when and what I post.

We hope everything is going good this year, and you're able to balance your blog, life and school! How do you come up with your ideas for your blog posts?

To be honest, I look at other people's blogs and post and get my inspiration from them and maybe add my own little twists to them. Something else I do to help me come up with ideas is to try and write about things I enjoy doing as it helps me write passionately about it.

Do your friends and family support your blog?

I haven’t really told my family about it to be honest, however I have told my younger brother because he has asked about blog in general before so I kinda dropped the ‘Yeah I have a blog actually, why don’t you read it?’. Although it’s not his stuff I post he still tells me he enjoys reading it which warms my heart. I told my group of best friends about it and they were all supportive about it and my best friend also has a blog herself. A lot of people I wasn’t expecting to find out have found out about it, and at first I was kind of embarrassed about it, I now flaunt it off. I’m at the stage where I don’t feel embarrassed to say ‘I have a blog!’

A blog is a great thing to have! No need to be embarrassed by it. If you could meet/interview one celebrity, who would it be? And why?

I would have to say my celeb crush Matty Healy. He’s the lead singer in my favourite band called The 1975 and he’s a really genuine person. He stands up for rights and the LGBTQ+ community. He also took part in the Womens marches of January 2017. My favourite thing about him is the fact that he’s not afraid to say what his opinion is. He will say if he doesn’t agree with politics or what is happening in the world.

Good choice. What’s your favourite blog post that you have written and posted? And why?

I would say my favourite post would probably be My Goals for 2017 post because I got really positive feedback on the post and it made me feel really happy. It also helped encourage others and give them inspiration with their goals. Writing the post just made me feel really happy and excited to try and achieve these!

We love that post! Lastly, what advice would you give to someone who wants to or is keen to start a blog of their own?

My advice to someone who wants to start a blog would be ‘Just go for it!’.  Honestly, when I was first thinking about I just went for it and I’m so happy I made the decision too! It makes me so happy and I just love doing it. So yeah, although it may be hard to keep up with it, it’s 100% worth it in the end!
That is great advice, we agree.
So, that's the end of our 9th Interview of our interview series. We hope you all enjoyed this interview, and thank you so much Brianna for agreeing to take part. If you would like to follow Brianna, and keep up to date with her blog then here are Brianna's links;
Here's a message from Brianna;
Hi there! Thank you for having me! I really hoped you enjoyed reading as much as I did taking part, it was really fun and I hope you learnt a little bit about me.

Thank you! Goodbye X
Thank you again Brianna for answering our questions on our interview series! We hope you all enjoyed. Next months installment is the 12th October where we will interview a YouTuber!
2 Peas In A Pod Blog

AKA: Jade & Lydia


Interview Eight
Beauty At Brunch- Youtubers


 Hello It's 2 Peas In A Pod Blog Here, 

Hi everyone and welcome back to our interview series and today we are treated with our 8th instalment. Today we will be interviewing the gorgeous girls (Rae & Lily) who are the writers of 'Beauty At Brunch'. As you will most probably know they are joint bloggers like ourselves, so it was so exciting to interview them. So, we hope you enjoy the interview! 

Hello Ladies, it’s so nice to see another collaborative blog/YouTube. What made you
start ‘Beauty At Brunch’?

L: I spend so much time watching YouTubers and reading other blogs and mentioned to Rae that I would like to start my own. I am a bit useless with computers so needed help from my sis to start a blog!


R: I’d blogged on and off in the past so when Lily mentioned wanting to set one up I thought it was a great idea. Lily is a Beauty Therapy lecturer, and I have a degree in Contour Fashion so we thought it would be interesting to share our knowledge with our readers and subscribers.


Love that! We've definitely learnt a thing or two from your blog. You have a successful blog and YouTube, do you all find it quite difficult to balance both these and get on with day to day life?


R: It can be difficult to fit everything in when you have a full time job as blogging is a full time job in itself but it definitely helps that there are 2 of us to divide the tasks between.

L: We try to keep Saturdays free as a blog day to get together to take pictures, film videos etc.


Definitely, two helps get things done quicker! The quality of your blog pictures are amazing, what camera do you use and do you use the same camera for your YouTube channel?


R: Thank you so much! Photography has definitely become one of my favourite parts of blogging. We use a Nikon D5300 Digital SLR for the majority of our blog photos and YouTube videos and switch between using an 18mm-55mm lens and an 55mm-300mm lens. We tend to use a ring light for indoors shots in the winter and occasionally film on a Mac but find the picture quality is better with the camera. We’ve actually started a Photography 101 series on the blog for anyone interested in tips on how to improve their blog photos.


The photography 101 series sounds great, we'll check it out! Where did the name ‘Beauty At Brunch’ come from and why did you two decide to use that name?


R : We did a lot of brainstorming and came up with so many different names but ultimately decided we wanted a name that sounded professional, would stand the test of time and encompassed what we were about.


L: ‘Beauty at Brunch’ also pays hommage to our weekly meet-ups over brunch or breakfast on a Sunday. This ‘Breakfast Club’ eventually became our blog meetings!


You have a travel section on your blog, if you two could visit anywherein the world where would you go and why

R: Ooh that’s a difficult one, there are so many places on my travel bucket list, I’d love to explore Italy some more and there are so many parts of Japan that I’d like to see too.

L: I would love to go to Sweden and stay in the ice hotel, it looks like such an amazing experience!


We can imagine that's quite cold but beautiful views at the same time! You have a video on your channel called ‘Makeover Using Cruelty Free Products’. Is this something that your channel/blog is passionate about?
 
L: Some of my favourite products are cruelty free – I have been usingYoungblood Mineral makeup for years as their eyeshadow doesn’t irritate my eyes the way other products can. I do love luxury makeup brands too, although it is a shame that they aren’t all cruelty free by now!


Agreed, hopefully one day there will be a stop. There is a lot of negativity thrown at YouTubers and bloggers, how do you girls deal with negative comments?


R: Luckily we haven’t really had to deal with much negativity, we’ve found most people to be incredibly supportive. Most of our readers are in their mid 20’s and upwards so I think it helps when your audience is a bit older and more mature. I think we are at a point in life where we are comfortable with who we are and know we aren’t going to please everyone so when we do get the odd negative comment (or usually a creepy comment from an anonymous guy) it takes about 2 seconds to just press delete and get on with the day.


That's glad to hear everyone is so supportive! Have you girls got any advice for those who are thinking about starting a YouTube channel?


R: Just go for it! Be consistent and stay true to yourself. It’s totally scary putting yourself out there and still something I’m not particularly comfortable with at all (I’m way happier behind a camera than in front of one) but the more you do it the easier it becomes.


L: It is scary to start with, just be yourself and you will feel comfortable on camera – don’t do something just because everyone else is. It is such a supportive industry, so if anyone is starting out people are always willing to give support and advice.


Lastly, you have a few beauty blog posts, if you could only use one makeup product what would it be and why?
 
R: Do skincare products count? If I could pick a skincare product I would go for the Charlotte Tilbury Multi-Miracle Glow Balm, I use it every day and it keeps my skin looking healthy. If I could only take one make up product I’d go for the YSL false lash effect mascara – it’s the best mascara I’ve ever used.
 
L: I would pick mascara. My favourite is L’oreal volume million lashes.My eyelashes are naturally quite light so a quick coat of mascara helps to add definition.

They are some great makeup & skincare choices. Thank You so much Lily and Rae ( Beauty At Brunch) for taking part in our interview series. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did interviewing you two! 

Be sure to check their amazing blog out here- http://beautyatbrunch.com/aboutus/
Also check out their Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/beautyatbrunch

If you would like to see and learn more about Lily and Rae then below are their social media links- 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeautyatBrunch
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeautyatBrunch/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beautyatbrunch/
Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/beautyatbrunch/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/beautyatbrunch
Bloglovin': https://www.bloglovin.com/@beautyatbrunch

Thank You again Lily and Rae for participating in out interview series. Thank you for taking the time to read our interview with youtubers and bloggers Beauty At Brunch. Don's forget to tune in next time on the 14th September where we will be interviewing a blogger!

2 Peas In A Pod Blog
AKA: Jade & Lydia 



Interview Seven

Alice Riley - Blogger
Hello, It's 2 Peas In A Pod Blog Here!

Hello everybody! Welcome back to the Interview Series, here on our blog. This is our 7th interview in the series! This months interview is with the lovely Alice Riley. Alice's blog is slightly different, it's a dating blog! We love it, it's so unique! So, lets get on with the interview. We hope you enjoy our interview with Alice, and thank you Alice for agreeing to be part of our interview series and answering our questions!



Hello Alice, we absolutely love your blog, we were instantly hooked when we found out it was a dating blog, that’s so unique. How do you platform your blog as you already stand out from the crowd? And how do you draw people in to read your blog posts?

I use the Wordpress platform, as you can tag each post under relevant topics, and people can find you that way by searching for different tags. I find the easiest way to build a following is to follow and comment on other people’s blogs by searching through the tag system, as a decent number of them will follow back. Social media is also really good for promoting your blog and building a following, but you have to make sure you interact and join in conversations rather than just posting your links.

What gave you the inspiration to start your blog, especially the inspiration for it to become a dating blog?

I used to blog anonymously, and found I ended up writing about dating a lot as I guess it’s something I’ve always been passionate about- even in primary school I used to fantasise about having a boyfriend one day! I also blogged about fashion, beauty and lifestyle for a while, but my heart was never fully in it, so at the end of last year I decided to start Alice In Wonderlust as I think to take your blog to the next level you need to include your real identity.

On your blog you have written about a lot of different dates i.e. Coffee dates and dinner dates, however, if you could have your dream date, what would it be?

For a first date (with someone I haven’t met before that is), I’d say either dinner or coffee depending on the time of day. For an established thing, maybe a London tourist thing as I don’t explore the city as much as I should- I’ve always wanted to try out the cable car over the river so maybe that? Otherwise, the classic “dinner and a movie”.

They are all nice first dates! When you first started your blog, did you think that you would be judged because you write about your dating experiences? If so, how did you overcome this?

I think anything you post online in a public space, people will judge you for, and particularly when you write about dating, you’re never going to be to everyone’s taste. I think the important thing is to just accept that and keep being yourself. For every person who judges you negatively, there will be someone else who thinks “this is exactly the blog I need”.

That is very true, someone will always like the things you post! You wrote about your ‘Mid-Twenties Crisis’ as one of your blog posts last year. Do you feel like you should be in a serious relationship, or just carry on loving single life with the occasional date?

Definitely in a serious relationship. I long for the day I can give up dating.

In the same blog post, you put about when you were 18 you wanted a boyfriend, and people asking why you want a relationship. If you could go back, would you change anything?

Oh yes definitely. I’d tell them that men are attracted to youth and beauty, so the best time to find someone is now, that would shut them up! I think I’d also be more proactive about finding love. Dating websites were around then, but nowhere near as popular as they are now, so I never really considered it. But if I could go back I’d definitely give it a go and try and find some older guys, rather than persevering with immature 18-year-olds!

What’s the biggest thing about love that you learned in 2016, out of the 3 things in your blog post ‘3 Things I Leaned About Love In 2016’?

I’d say #1- don’t be intimidated by attractive guys. I always used to be intimated if a guy was too good looking and think they’d never be interested in me, but now I’ve realised I need to stop putting myself down. And even if a guy is “out of my league”, you never know what his tastes are, so it’s always worth a shot.

That is a good point, we agree, it is always worth a shot. It was really inspirational to read your blog post ‘Shoutout To My Ex’ you showed in the blog post that people may bring you down but you get back up stronger. What would you say to someone that has gone through a bad breakup or been treated badly?

I’d say the first thing to do is cut off all contact with your ex. Block them on social media, delete their number, avoid events they will be at, but if you have to go try and spend your time with other people. Continuing to talk to them, or even worse sleep with them, in the hope that they’ll change their mind, or attempting to “be friends” will just prolong the agony. Then just keep yourself busy with work, hobbies, and friends- if you neglected your social life in a relationship, now’s the time to get back out there. Over time the pain will heal, and eventually you’ll find someone else who is worth your time.

Good advice, we definitely agree. We love all of your blog posts and your whole blog, what do you love most about your blog?

I feel like it’s really different to the other dating blogs and the mainstream media. We’re fed this narrative that in our twenties we have to sleep around and shun relationships, so anyone who is more traditional gets pushed out. I find even female bloggers who are more emotional feel like they have to be almost apologetic about it. So I feel like by being open and unapologetic about my outlook on dating, I’m speaking on behalf of people who don’t have a voice.

Lastly, do you have any advice for people that either want to start a blog or have a blog that are worried about writing what they think?
First piece of advice is to pick a topic you’re passionate about, and find your voice. Then be dedicated- it’s a good idea to keep a fairly consistent posting schedule, but don’t feel like you have to post every day, once or twice a week is fine. The most important thing is promotion. Comment on other related blogs, and keep active on social media, engaging with other relevant accounts, and guest post on relevant publications to build your following. In regards to what people might think, don’t post anything that might jeopardise your job, but apart from that don’t be afraid to be yourself. You’re never going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but as long as you target your niche that’s fine.

So, that is the end of our 7th interview! We hope you all enjoyed this interview with the lovely Alice. Thank you for answering our questions, we loved reading your replies. Thank you again. If you want to learn more about Alice then here are Alice's links,
Alice's Links;
Twitter: @aliceinwlust

Instagram: @aliceriley13

Here's a message for Alice;

Hi everyone, my name is Alice. I blog about all things DATING, from thoughts and opinions, to bad dating stories, to reviews. You can find me over at aliceinwonderlust.com, feel free to give it a read!

Thank you Alice for answering our questions and agreeing to be part of our interview series! We love your blog and how unique it is. We hope you all enjoyed this month's interview. Thank you again Alice. Next month's installment is the 10th August where we will interview a YouTuber.

2 Peas In A Pod Blog
AKA: Jade & Lydia



Interview Six

Beauty Spectrum- Youtuber

Hello It's 2 Peas In A Pod Blog Here,

Hi everyone and welcome back to our sixth installment of 'The Interview Series'. We hope you have enjoyed all the interviews so far. Today's blog post is with a Youtuber who goes by the name 'Beauty Spectrum' AKA: Molly !! Molly is a 17 year old beauty vlogger who has an intresting channel. So without further ado lets learn more about Molly and introduce the interview. We hope you guys enjoy the interview and thank you Molly for taking part. 


    

     Hello, Molly, you are a similar age to us (17), how do you balance school life and running your YouTube channel?

I do find it fairly difficult sometimes, and a lot of the time I put YouTube ahead of school (which is probably really bad) but it’s just something that I love doing. Most of the time I do manage a happy balance.

     What inspired you to start a YouTube channel?

I’d been watching people like Zoella and Tanya Burr all throughout my summer holidays in Year 10, and I saw them having a really good time and making new friends, and I just thought, how difficult can that be (I underestimated it completely) so I threw everything I had into it and started making videos every week from my phone.

     We bet you are glad you bit the bullet! Hitting 60,000 subscribers must have been surreal, did you ever think your channel would become such a success? 

I never ever expected things to become what they have. My target was always to reach 1000 subscribers, I couldn’t imagine reaching a 4 digit number, that seemed miles and miles away. When I did I had this feeling of ‘why stop at One Thousand? Why not Two Thousand? Or Ten? Sixty was something I never expected and something I’m incredibly grateful for.

      It's a massive achievement. We absolutely love watching your videos, especially your summer vlogs. You had such a jam-packed holiday!! The question is, what was the best memory from your 2016 summer holidays?

 My 2016 summer holiday was honestly INSANE! I don’t think I could pinpoint one moment at all. I loved my trip to Florida, obviously, and vlogging that was AMAZING because I’ll always have those memories to watch back! I loved the weekend I spent at SITC, it was the first time I’d met so many other creators and seeing so many other creative individuals were really inspiring and a weekend out in London with my friends was honestly amazing! I loved seeing Hannah and Alice so often, that was definitely my main highlight. I couldn’t pinpoint one.

   
      You recently went on a trip to Paris with a few of your friends from YouTube, it looked like a  trip of a lifetime! How did you meet all of the YouTube gang that went to Paris? 

Paris was honestly the best week of my life! I kind of fell into that group of friends partly by accident. I made friends with Hannah from Twitter, I’d watched some of her videos and loved her tweets, and we’d been to several events together. Eve, I was a huge fan girl of when I started my channel she was definitely an inspiration to me, as somebody my own age I thought what she was doing was insane. I was introduced to the rest of them mainly through Eve, to be honest, she made the group chat and the friendships spiraled from there. I honestly felt like the luckiest girl in the world because these people were creators I’d loved for ages so to go on holiday with them seemed like a dream!

    That's so amazing you have all become such good friends. We have watched your YouTube for a long time now as we are the same age as you we feel like we can relate a lot more to your videos and vlogs. Do you feel like there is a lot of pressure on someone the same age as you to stick to certain types of videos that they put onto their channel? 

Partly yeah, I am definitely aware of the age of my viewers when I’m filming, although surprisingly my demographic isn’t as young as you might think it would be! As I’ve grown up a bit these last few years on camera, my audience have obviously grown up as well, meaning that the pressure has lifted. Off camera, I’m just the same as any other 17 years old, and this is something I try and portray on camera too, somebody relatable that people enjoy watching.

     That definitely shows through the camera you come across so down to earth, sticking to the theme of restrictions on videos, have you got any advice for someone who is worried about putting a certain video on their channel as they are scared about what their viewers might think? 

It’s difficult because me saying ‘just do it’ is easier said than done, and it can be really daunting. There have definitely been times when I’ve made a video and then I’ve gone to click upload and I’ve thought ‘eek do I really want people to see this’ or I might have been acting a bit stupid and I suddenly get worried about what people think, but generally speaking I’m always happy with whatever I upload.

     Your channel has acquired quite a fan base of viewers that often stop you in the streets to chat. What is the best thing about having loads of viewers who can interact with you? 

It’s so lovely meeting people that enjoy my videos! It’s nice because we always have common interests, so it’s just like meeting a friend. I was at a Shawn Mendes concert a couple of weeks ago and I met viewers and we had lots to talk about because we were all there enjoying the same music, so it’s never awkward at all!

    Where do you see yourself in terms of your YouTube channel in 5 years?

That’s such a big question! 5 years time I’ll be 22, that’s INSANE. I’d love to say my channel will be bigger, I’d love to have reached 100,000 subscribers, that’s my main goal. I’d also love to be living / have lived in London. That’d be an absolute dream come true because everything YouTube related is in the city, so living 200 miles up North is currently a bit of a drawback. 

    That is so true with being far away from events etc. We hope you achieve 100,000 subscribers!! Lastly, what has been the best thing to happen to you and your channel whilst you have had your YouTube channel and why?


That’s a really difficult question. Probably the events. I remember watching people like Alfie Deyes and Zoella who often found themselves at fancy events, and now I’ve been lucky enough to experience similar things. I was shortlisted best British vlogger last year by Cosmopolitan. I went to their awards ceremony in Kensington Palace and that was THE MOST surreal experience. Getting to experience that alongside so many of my friends was probably my favorite moment. That and the trip to Paris in October last year. They were definite highlights.


They are experiences you will never forget! We wish you all the luck with your youtube channel for the future. Thank You so much for taking the time to do an interview for our 'Interview Series'. We really enjoyed your answers and learning more about you as our readers will too. 

If you would like to see more of Molly (Beauty Spectrum) then her social media links are down below! Be sure to check out her vlogs to see what Molly get's up to in a week!! 

The links will send you straight to the webpage. 

Youtube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeeIqJdljsFxtEoQtwANFQw
Twitter- https://twitter.com/beauty_spectrum
Blog- http://beautyspectrumblog.com
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/beautyspectrumblog
Instagram- https://instagram.com/beauty_spectrum

So that's a wrap! We hope you all enjoyed reading our interview with Beauty Spectrum (Molly). We had so much fun interviewing Molly. So thank you for participating. If you enjoyed this interview and our others then be sure to come back on the 13th July to read an interview about an awesome blogger! 

2 Peas In A Pod Blog 
AKA: Jade & Lydia 



Interview Five

 Erin Grace - Blogger

Hello It's 2 Peas In A Pod Blog Here!

Hello everyone, welcome back! We hope you are all well. So, our fifth installment of the interview series. This month we are interviewing a blogger. We would like to welcome Erin Grace. You guys may know her, she is the owner of the blog It's EverythingErin. We hope you enjoy this interview with Erin.


Hi Erin, What gave you the inspiration to start your blog?

I got inspiration from the likes of Zoella and Tanya Burr to start a blog. I loved reading their blogs and when I found out I could do it too I had to give it a go.

We love all the pictures that you use on your blog, what camera do you use to get such good quality?

Thank you, that means a lot! I actually use my iPhone 6S and have been doing for over a year now. I’ve attempted to use a camera but I just find it a lot easier on my phone because I’m used to it! Taking in natural lighting and using Snapseed to edit ensures my photos are the best quality possible.

Awesome, we have noticed you blog about music a lot, but, who is your favourite artist? And why?

Music is one of my favourite things to blog about. I have quite a varied music taste but I’d say my favourite artist is the band McFly, they have been my favourite band for years since I was blown away by how good they were live. I also love Ellie Goulding, her album Delirium is my go-to.

We have seen on your blog that you use and like a selection of different lipsticks. However, if you could only use one which would it be and why?

I would 100% choose MAC’s Velvet Teddy. It’s a gorgeous brown-toned nude which looks amazing on everyone and I love how it’s a matte finish as well, but not drying at all.

We love Velvet Teddy too! On your blog you have a section about blog tips, have you got any tips you swear by and use?

My most important tip for bloggers is interact with the blogging community. Writing the posts is only half of blogging, it’s just as important to connect with bloggers and build an audience. Also, blog for you, not for anyone else and if you’re feeling like it’s a chore, take a break! It’s so important to be enthusiastic about blogging and if you’re not enjoying it as much as usual take a step back.

Good advice, we agree. You were part of a studio audience on ‘The Voice Kids’ did you enjoy it? And would you want to do it again?

I enjoyed it so much! It was amazing to see the behind the scenes of a TV show and be so close to the stars. The judges on The Voice Kids were Pixie Lott, Will.I.Am and Danny Jones from McFly (the reason I went of course) and being able to high five them all as they came in and sit a few feet away from Will.I.Am singing I Gotta Feeling on The Voice stage was a surreal experience. I would definitely do it again.

It’s quite common for young bloggers to be frowned upon, how have you battled through with the negative comments?

I have made sure I don’t compare myself to older bloggers, I am in a completely different situation to them and when they were my age, blogging was unheard of! Being a teen blogger can be challenging but sometimes I’ll receive comments from people who are surprised I am only sixteen and that is really empowering.

What makes your blog unique, and how have you put your own stamp on it?

My blog is unique because although I am predominantly a beauty blog nowadays, I still incorporate everything I love, particularly music too. I love writing about my experiences at concerts and my favourite albums and I don’t read too many blogs that do that so I guess that makes me quite unique.

So true, you are a strong member of The Teenage Team, do you think that being a part of a group like that, it has made you fit more into the blogging community?

Yes! I didn’t feel like I fitted into the blogging community half as much as I did before the Teenage Team. The Teenage Team makes me feel like I belong in the blogging community. We’re all looking out for each other and it’s so positive.

We love the Teenage Team! Lastly, what are your future goals for your blog?

Currently my future goals for my blog include improving my photography, I’ve come a long way since I began but I’m still not fully happy with my photos and I want to improve that. I want to be able to stick to a schedule and manage to blog twice a week, every week! Finally I want to make more blogging friends and hopefully meet some too.

So, that's the end of the of our fifth interview, thank you so much Erin for answering our questions for our interview series. We loved asking you questions and loved reading your replies! Thank you so much again! We love your blog, here are all of Erin's links,

Links:

Here's a message from Erin:

Hey! My name is Erin and  I'm sixteen years old and obssessed with rose gold and bands. I blog over at Everything Erin, my space on the internet to share my thoughts and ramblings of everything I love, including beauty, music and fashion.

Thank you Erin! We hope you enjoyed reading this months interview on our Interview Series! Thank you Erin for agreeing to answer some questions for us and thank you for wanting to be part of this series! We will have the next installment of the interview series on 8th June where we will be interviewing a YouTuber.

2 Peas In A Pod Blog
AKA: Jade & Lydia
Interview Four

Lucy Wyndham-Read- YouTuber
Hello It's 2 Peas In A Pod Blog Here,

Hello everyone and welcome back to our blog, hope you are all well. Today we are back to the 4th installment of The Interview Series and this month we will be interviewing a YouTuber. So today we would like to welcome Lucy Wyndham-Read to our blog. We hope you enjoy reading our interview with Lucy. 


EX Army Lucy Wyndham-Read is a Fitness Expert and Author with over 20 years experience


Hi, Lucy, your YouTube channel has become quite successful recently, did you ever think it would become so popular?

Not really, but then my aim was instead of getting or aiming for a big following, it was more about putting out good safe an effective workouts and information – as so many channels are all about selling gimmicks and give misleading or incorrect advice, so I wanted to create a channel that people could trust and find out how to get fit and healthy for free.


We have taken part in your January and March challenge, it was tough but we are proud that we finished it! What inspired you to create these mini challenges?

For me I have always done shorter workouts and as a trainer, your job is always about finding solutions to client’s problems, and over my 25 year’s experience I know the biggest obstacles people face are time, and the fact they get bored, so January being the time to get people on a health mission was a great time to show how they can get fit in just 4 minutes, with a new workout each day, keeping them enjoying training and feeling motivated.


It definitely made us feel motivated so #Lucyssquad is quite the trend now, what is the best part about having a squad that follows you and enjoys your videos?


This is the best thing ever and #lucyssquad first got tagged on April the 1st 2016 so we are still new, and it has blown my mind how so many people are joining, and that this squad is worldwide and has all ages, all races, and all abilities and I love that and we all help and encourage each other. I guess it was always meant for me being EX Army and fitness being my passion, and the squad is only going to get bigger and stronger.

Back in 2016, you were interviewed on Sky News. How did that make you feel, was it quite overwhelming?

For me it was a great opportunity to talk about fitness, and I do lot on Sky News and in the past I would be on air talking about women being in the army, so for me doing Live TV is exciting when I am talking about something I am passionate about, saying that the other bonus is you get your hair and make done by a professional before you go live on air, which I always love. 

Haha, we can imagine it's great to be pampered before the live TV appearance. Have you got any tips on how to motivate yourself to actually work out, as it can be quite a chore for some people?

The best motivation for me – as I have days which I struggle is to put on some upbeat music as this gets me in the mood and an all-time track that I love that makes me want to jump squat is called Silence ft. Sarah McLachlan (Tiesto Mix) and the video is awesome
plus, I have to say the current Ed Sheeran Castle on the Hill is a great workout tune as well.
So for me, music is the best motivator.

Couldn't agree more, music helps us too. You used to work in the British Army, what was that like? Was that what first inspired you to love fitness?

It was tough as I joined in 1990 and there we hardly any women in the army, so I had to work harder to prove myself as a woman, and I suffered a lot from bullying and in those years you could not go to your boss and talk about it – so I bottled a lot up but fitness was my escape and this is where my passion for it grew. So yes the Army is where I fell in love with fitness, as at school I hated sports and had no confidence and was the shy girl sat in the corner of the room, which is one of the reasons why at the age of 19 I decided I wanted to be strong and fit and the only way to do this was to take on the ultimate challenge and jump in the deep end and join the army.

That's so inspiring, It’s common for some people to feel embarrassed when working out, have you got any tips for them and how they can conquer their nerves?

Yes, this is common, and my advice would be if you feel uncomfortable training in the gym and in front of others, then start off with working out at home – this is the beauty of YouTube as you can do your workouts anywhere, then you will feel more confident, secondly – remember you are awesome and never compare yourself to others and if they are watching you then remember that is because they are bored and you are great.

Great advice, what we like is when we are doing your workout videos you often read out quotes and motivation. What made you want to take a friendly and motivation approach to your fitness videos?

For me, it seemed the missing link, because motivation and fitness go hand in hand and for me, I want to produce the best workout videos on YouTube and it seemed the perfect place to re-enforce positive words for people to digest while they are working out

If you could only do one exercise move for the rest of your life what would you do and why?

It would have to be walking – as I love it, it’s the best and most natural exercise and a great way to keep a healthy weight, keep tones and healthy and fit, and I could walk for hours and just get lost in nature, one of my favourite places is Morzine in France, I go out there a lot as my friend has a wonderful chalet and I film a lot of my workouts down there as it is in the mountains. 

What has been the best thing to happen to you whilst your YouTube channel has been up?

Getting emails from people all around the world telling me how they now love fitness and that it has changed their lives, and for me as a trainer that is exactly why I do, I want everyone to feel their best.


Well, that is a wrap! Thank You so much, Lucy, for answering a few questions for our Interview Series. We absolutely enjoyed interviewing you and reading your answers. Your passion for fitness is so clear and we absolutely love your videos. So once again thank you for taking part. If you would like to learn more about Lucy or improve your fitness then her social media and youtube links are below.

Here is a little message from Lucy,

Thank you 2 peas in a Pod - I love your attitude to life and how hard you work so a big thank you from me to you for this interview and I hope all your readers enjoy and on a final note let's finish with #girlpower #nevergiveup and #thankyou Lucy xx"

Thank You Lucy, that is so nice and sweet. Give it up for #GirlPower Whoop! We hope you have enjoyed reading our interview with Lucy Wyndham-Read. We had so much fun creating it. Be sure to come back to our interview series on Thursday 11th May where we will be interviewing a blogger!
2 Peas In A Pod Blog
AKA: Jade & Lydia


Fairly Rosy- Blogger

      Interview Three
     
     Hello It's 2 Peas In A Pod Blog Here,

    Welcome back to our monthly interview. Today we are joined by Fairly Rosy otherwise known as Lisa. Welcome to our blog Lisa. We hope you enjoy reading today's interview we all so much fun doing it! 






     Hi, Lisa, let's start at the bottom, why did you start your blog?

I started my blog because I felt I needed an outlet for me. I internalise everything which means after a while, it can come out in the worst way possible (usually tears). I haven't touched too deeply on any issues yet but I find writing about the things I love quite therapeutic - that and I find as a fast typer, my frustrations melt away when I furiously type away!

     That is amazing, you have recently come up with the ‘blogger Interviews’ where did you get your inspiration from?

The inspiration came from everyone who's ever done an interview series with their fellow peers! I tested my questions out on myself and hope to start sending them out very soon. I had planned to kick this off in January but illness and other life things got in the way.


      That's similar to how we started, very exciting! How do try and make your blog unique and stand out from the crowd?

I'd say my little wooden blocks are my unique factor! That and I try to write how I would speak. Minus the fact I drop letters (I'm a war-tah not a war-teh kind of girl). I try to make it relatable to everyone else, even if I spend quite a bit on some of the stuff I review. I mean I hope it's clear that I've got a spending problem and not that I can always afford to buy the good stuff! Seriously, my favourite things are usually things people have bought me or I've got from Superdrug (hello Makeup Revolution!)

     We love it, there is a lot of negativity thrown at bloggers in society at the moment, how do you battle through the comments etc?

If I'm honestly - I'm naturally oblivious to everything. It's like selective hearing, except I guess it should be called selective reading. I've had nothing but good comments from people I know who know I now blog. When I first started, I announced it on Facebook as I didn't want to hide it. I mean my mum is my biggest fan and reads everything I write. That will mean more to me than anyone telling me bloggers are 'insert generic comment here'. Let's face it, usually, people assume we want to be the next Zoella and that's very untrue.

 That is so cute about your mum, your blog has a lot of beauty posts featured on it, if you were only allowed to use one brand of makeup what would you use and why?

Oh gosh. Narrowing that down is like asking me to choose my favourite pet I've ever owned (spoiler alert: I will never choose!)

I'd probably go for Makeup Revolution as my cheap option. The products are wide ranging and there are fantastic dupes for some of the higher end products. Plus their palettes are fantastic for the price!

     Lisa, you have recently started up your own series called ‘One  A Month’ It’s about reading a book once a month. Could you elaborate on this? What is it, where did the inspiration come from?

 I made a resolution that I want to read more books. However, I'm usually busy with what feels like a million other things so I chose to make it easy on myself.
I didn't have any inspiration other than a monthly favourites post except the books aren't favourites. They're books I bought and never had time to read. It's like shopping your makeup stash except it's your bookshelf.

I really enjoyed reading my first book even though it had me in tears for the last third of the book. I'm preparing to start my February one (I've been a bit delayed, thanks to illness) soon and again, it's another book I've had no time to read.

     Plagiarism is a big part of the writing society. Blogging has seen a fair share of copying people's work how do you try and avoid this? Has anyone every copied your blog posts/ideas? 

I do my best to put my own spin on things. No one has universal copyright on most blog posts. Monthly favourites, shopping your stash, the face of the day... there's always going to be hundreds of different spins on it. I guess as long as you stay true to your voice and style, you'll be fine. As for anyone copying my blog posts or ideas, I don't think there are any! If there are, as long as they have their unique spin - I'm happy to see myself influencing someone.

      What are your aims for your blog in 2017?

Come up with a consistent schedule. I had planned twice a week but now think once a week is more doable for me. Or maybe three posts every two weeks. With work, searching for a permanent job, planning to bring a kitten into the household and everything else - I need to make blogging feel fun and not like a chore.

I also aim to talk about the gritty stuff, I have stories and memories that would be useful to share with others but I've just not felt brave enough to do it yet.

Last but not least, to keep growing. I've had a fantastic four months so far and if I can keep it up - I'll be happy!

     Good Luck with those goals, we wish you the best. Your two black cats are adorable! If you could have any animal in the world as a pet what would you have and why?

Sadly I only have one now as Alfie fell gravely ill, but thanks for saying that! I am a proud cat mum, soon to be cat spinster, to be honest with you.

My choice would still be a cat. I adore them, they get on with their business and they're semi-independent. Yes, even the ones that are indoor only. If I could have 5 of them in the house, I totally would. However, then my house would smell of cat litter all the time.

       Oh so sorry to hear that. Last question, what advice would you give to someone who was struggling to create a base of readers for their blog? How do you advertise your blog and gain readers?

Keep on going! I don't even know if I have an established base of readers but I just keep on going. Someone out there will read your posts, it takes time. Join a comment pod, join in on twitter chats. They definitely help. I advert


Well, that is all we have time for in our interview. Thank You so much, Lisa for taking part in our Interview Series. We wish you all the best.  We hope you have enjoyed getting to know Lisa a bit more. If you would like to get to know Lisa more then here are her social media links and the link to her blog.

Blog: http://fairlyrosy.com
Instagram:www.instagram.com/xolisajane
Twitter:www.twitter.com/fairlyrosy
Facebook:www.facebook.com/fairlyrosy

A message from Lisa: 
Hi everyone, my name is Lisa and I blog on Fairly Rosy! I was thrilled to get some questions from Jade and Lydia and did my best to answer them. They were very questions that related to me entirely! I hope you enjoy reading my answers.

Thank You for reading our blog! be sure to come back on the 13th of April when we will be interviewing a youtuber!! 

2 Peas In A Pod Blog
AKA: Jade & Lydia 





BlondeAmy- YouTuber

 Interview Two


Hello It's 2 Peas In A Pod Blog Here,

Hi everyone and welcome back to your second instalment of 'The Interview Series'. We are very excited to announce the Youtuber and Blogger, Blonde Amy.... other wise known as Amy!! We hope you enjoy this detailed interview with Amy. We had so much fun.



So, your YouTube channel, Blonde Amy has become quite a success, when did you start your 
YouTube channel and why?

I'd hardly say a success but it's certainly a lot of fun. I made it a 2016 resolution to actually begin filming videos - I have wanted to do so for years but never had enough confidence to hit 'record'. Sometimes in life you have to bite the bullet and I've not regretted it a year on!

That's so nice. We loved your Portugal vlogs, where is your dream holiday location and why?

I had a lot of fun filming it! It's difficult to choose just one place, but somewhere I would like the Caribbean would be a dream come true. I love travelling and would love to do it more often!

You recently dyed your hair grey, do you prefer it grey or blonde?

I definitely prefer being blonde but it's good to give my hair a rest from all of the bleach. I'm sure my next hairstyle will be a dark to blonde ombre as I loved having ombre hair but life is too short to have boring hair and I love trying out the newest trends. I am currently using a semi-permanent dye so it comes out very easily; the same one recommended by Sophie from sophdoesnails. My hair is my identity so it's essential for me to reflect my moods and ideas through it!

Love it, alongside your YouTube you also have a blog. Your blog is incredible and a lot of thought goes into those posts, what made you decide to want to start blogging?

 How lovely are you both? I started my blog when I was at uni but blondeamy.co.uk wasn't live until March 2015. I had a difficult time at uni; I never felt like I fitted in and generally felt quite alone. This then led to me feeling depressed. I could have either felt sorry for myself or do something that made me feel better. Choosing the latter, I combined my love for writing with my growing interest in the beauty industry. I know everyone says it, but I didn't ever expect anyone to read my posts. It's the support from every single follower that keeps me motivated to make my posts as good as possible. I know I have lots to still learn to make them better, but it's great to be on this journey with my followers.

That is great, you really do appreciate your followers. Your photos on your blog are amazing what camera do you use, is it the same camera that you use to film for your YouTube channel?

 I do everything on my Nikon D3200; it's also the same camera that I used throughout my degree that had a lot of photography modules. I am looking to get a 35mm lens for it to improve my images as videos further but it's a fantastic DSLR camera for both beginners and 'pros' as it's super easy to use and has video capability that films in high quality. I got mine years ago now, which means you can pick it up at a really reasonable price nowadays!

A lot of negativity is thrown at YouTubers as they are considered 'Lazy and have no proper job' How do you deal with that and what have you done in the past to conquer negative feedback?

 I wish YouTube was my job! I create videos and blog posts alongside my full-time job (where I work for 40+ hours a week). That said, I think negativity to those that can make it a full-time job should stop. Isn't the dream for everyone to have a job that pays the bills that you absolutely love? I admire those that do it full time and will continue to support them every single day.

 How do you balance both your Blog and YouTube channel alongside every day to day life?

It can be SO tough but life is life and it can't be helped you have days/weeks off! I try to film a video a week and write 2/3 blog posts and I can manage that. I have so many ideas for posts/videos that I could certainly do more but sometimes you need to get home from work, have a bath, and enjoy a Disney film guilt-free. The best bloggers are those that create content based on passion and not out of obligation and they're often the best posts to read in my opinion!

What are your goals for your YouTube?

 It's hard to say as it's at such an infancy stage at the present. I'd love to see it grow and see what opportunities arise then. It's exciting to see what the future has in store, but right now I'll continue to make videos that I'd love to watch and hope that others enjoy them too!

Good Luck, who inspired you to create a YouTube?

 I have always wanted too. YouTube videos have always been a favourite of mine - probably as their an honest, more real way to interact with people. I started watching them to find reviews back in 2008/2009 and I've never stopped! Naturally you begin to have favourite influencers who all in turn have encouraged me to take the plunge and do it myself.

 Finally, what advice do you have to anyone who is thinking about starting a YouTube channel?

Literally: just do it! I put it off for so long and I have no idea. It can feel weird at first but you very quickly get used to it and it's so easy to love every minute of it. I probably enjoy creating videos more than blogging as it feels more real, but experiment and have fun. If you only care about the subscribers and revenue, then you won't get anywhere. Make videos about things you genuinely love and it'll come naturally. I'm by no means a pro, but would happily speak to anyone considering doing it but have any additional questions!


Thank You so much Amy for taking part in out Interview Series. We hope you enjoyed it. Also we hope you reading this enjoyed learning about Amy and her YouTube & Blog. Here is a sentence from Amy herself.

 Hey! I'm Amy, writer of blondeamy.co.uk, sharing my passion for beauty on my blog and my YouTube channel whilst sharing different lifestyle events in the process. With more makeup than sense, I hope to inspire others to embrace their love for the beauty industry and different makeup products :)

If you want to see and read more about Amy then there are some social media links down below where you will be able to follow Amy and keep up to date with her posts.

Social platforms:

Thank You again Amy for taking part. Thank you for taking the time to read our latest Interview. If you want to come back on the 9th March 2017, where this time we will be interviewing a blogger. See You Soon.

Jade & Lydia  AKA: 2 Peas In A Pod Blog






OliviaAlesha- Blogger

Interview One

      Hello It's 2 Peas In A Pod Blog Here,

     Welcome back to our blog, today we have our first installment of The Interview Series. As you may know, by now we are starting a new series where we interview bloggers and YouTubers. To find out more here is a link to our blog post explaining all about it. Anyways, back to the interview. Today we can reveal we are interviewing blogger, Olivia Alesha who is well known from the blog OliviaAlesha.  So without further ado lets get on with the interview. 




  


      So, what made you want to start your blog?

- I started blogging as a hobby for the fun of it back in primary school because one of my friends was talking about how she found out how to make a blog on Blogger and it all started from there really. I've since moved to WordPress self-hosted, but found that when I was first starting out and even still to this day, I just love sharing my photos online and being able to write in an online community without being judged.

    Great we love it, sticking to your blog where did your name for your blog come from? 

-My blog name comes from my actual names "Olivia - Alesha". I spent ages trying to devise names when I had my first ever blog but came to the conclusion that I would most likely, in the long term, get bored of them. I thought that I couldn't really get bored or grow out of my own names so my current blog "Olivia Alesha" was born! 

     We recently read your blog post “how to stop comparing yourself to others” We loved it and the advice you gave. Sticking to advice, have you got any advice for bloggers out there that are afraid to post certain content on their blog?

-For bloggers that are afraid to post certain content, I would give them a few bits of advice. Just always remember that this is YOUR blog where YOU control all that goes on and what content goes up. It's yours and no one else's, therefore, you should be able to post whatever you please because this is your own personal space where you can share anything that your heart desires. I'd also advise to remember that your blog is your own area which is where you share content that you love and are passionate about. Don't let others get in the way or hold you back from writing about something that you want to, remember why you started blogging and try to obtain that mindset. I'd lastly say that if they were particularly worried about any controversial opinions/statements/comments being made on their post or scared about receiving comments that they were not happy with or were upsetting to them personally, remember that they can easily be deleted if they are explicit or upsetting to you personally. Embrace your opinions through your content and don't feel as though you have to hold back.

     Great advice, Throughout your blog you express your love for Australia. If you were only allowed to spend 1 week in Australia, what part would you go to and why? 

- I would 100% go to Sydney, I mean I would love to go to the Whitsundays and to Queensland but I've always wanted to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge so I would definitely go there and pursue that ambition. 

    What camera do you use to take you blog photos on?

-I use the Sony Cybershot DSC-HX300 which is a bridge camera and I absolutely love it!

     Have you got any tips for someone who is thinking about starting a Blog?

-To someone who wants to start a blog, I wouldn't say all those things about making sure you have or fit into a certain niche nor say that it's an obligation to have a clear set in where you want your blog to go, names, categories etc. Yes, all of those things help, but I feel as though when you get too caught up in those elements you may forget why wanted to start blogging in the first place and may make the experience more stressful or overwhelming instead of just being more exciting and a bit unpredictable. If you are thinking about starting a blog I'd say absolutely go for it! I feel like once you have the drive to start a blog, everything else like what you want to write about or what you want your blog to be about will all fall into place. I would say though for sure, to make sure you know what platform you want to set your blog up on, the most popular are Blogger and WordPress and then just take it from there! Watching online tutorials on how to navigate Blogger and WordPress are really helpful when starting out so I'd definitely recommend them or even just asking another blogger for some help too. It's such an amazing thing to be a part of the blogging community and everyone is so loving and supportive too.

       You have a beauty section on your blog, if you could only keep one makeup product what would you keep and why? 

-I would keep any one of my mascaras really! I mean I can't deny loving a good winged eyeliner or a bit of highlighter but I feel as though mascara pulls everything together so if I had to just keep one product it would be a mascara, most likely my LOREAL Paris Miss Manga Punky.

      Agreed, we love mascara too. Who are your favourite music artist's? 

-Ohhhhh, now this is one of the hardest questions because I literally listen to almost anything! I'd probably say I love the songs "Rockabye" and am a sucker for a little bit of "Say You Won't Let Go" but I also really like Cassie.

     As it’s the start of the year 2017, what are your goals for your blog this new year? 

- In 2017 I just really want my blog to continue growing and to continue interacting with my readers. I've made some amazing friends through blogging and I'd love to just continue talking with other fellow bloggers and to continue enjoying what I do. I also want to be able to juggle my work and blogging better since I've been getting a lot of school work and I want to keep up with my blogging as well as my work.

     Well, we hope 2017 is the year for you! There is a lot of negativity frowned upon bloggers, has that ever made you want to stop posting blog posts? 

- The negativity about bloggers has never really had an impact on me or made me want to stop writing posts, for me it was just getting really anxious about being online and having my content viewed all across the world which really stressed me out a lot. Times when I have not been able to write posts or not felt as motivated, I've just taken a 2 - 3-week Blogging Break and it really helped me find myself again.


Wow, great interview. Thank You so much, Olivia, for taking part in our first ever Interview Series post. We hope you have enjoyed getting to know Olivia and her blog. If you wish to follow Olivia then here is some links to where you can find her on social media: and a link to her blog- 
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/olivia_alesha 
Bloglovin': https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/olivia-alesha-14651317  
Blog:  http://oliviaxalesha.com/blog/   
And here is a little message at the bottom from Olivia herself:

Feel free to head over to my blog where I post all things Beauty, Lifestyle, Travel and Fashion so you'll be sure to find something that takes your fancy!

Again Thank you so much for taking the time to read our blog and most importantly thank you for being here for our first ever interview for The Interview Series. We hope this is the first of many to come. Our next interview will be up on Thursday 9th February with a YouTuber, so be sure to come back to check that out. Until then, 
Bye from Jade & Lydia AKA: 2 Peas In A Pod Blog

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