1. Why did you start blogging and why have you continued?
I started blogging at the end of 2009 when I, on a whim, moved to Indonesia to discover a simple life. I had just turned 24 and I was at a kind of crossroads between my teenage life and my adult life. Not knowing who I was or who I truly wanted to be. I started a blog back then to stay in touch with family and friends back home in Australia. I ended up writing a lot of travel related stuff for online travel mags and having heaps of fun. When Bo was born I knew that I needed to start a new blog. That this “new world” was so different to the world that I had been living, it felt as though it needed a fresh new space… not only for my new role as a mother, but my new outlook as a person. Motherhood truly does change everything, it’s not just something people say, it’s actually the truth!
I’ve kept blogging because of the amazing response I got to Inked in the first few months of launching the new blog. People started coming to this space from all around the world. I was (and still am) on an incredible journey of discovery with this new role, the new babe and this totally new way of seeing the world. Inked has become quite a sacred space for me… which is a bit odd I guess, for a little plot of internet-land… but it’s deeply valued in my life and from some of the emails I get from women (primarily but not solely) from amazing far off lands… it seems to be a valued space of honesty and tears and laughter and joy for other people too… much to my total amazement.
2. What do you blog about?
Primarily Inked is a personal blog about my parenting journey… so there is A LOT of photographs of my little girl, a lot of stories about our life and a lot of reflection on parenting choices, politics and why it is so important to me to make the decisions that are right for US, not the decisions that are most prevalent in society today. I have recently experienced a marriage breakdown so at the moment there is a lot about that too, as I muddle my way through the emotion, loss and absolute what-the-hell-do-I-do-now-ness of it all.
Inked dabbles a bit in DIY, Food, Craft and whole-living too… and every now and then a give-away or two and some guest posts from our readers.
3. What are your top 3 favourite Aussie blogs to read?
My favourite all time Aussie blogs? I really enjoy Che and Fidel, the photography is beautiful and Jodi comes across as a beautifully even-spirited, genuine woman and I like that a lot. I also read Cassie Nguyen is Homing pretty religiously… she’s a mama from the other side of the country with a baby born within weeks of my little one, she’s real, fun and creative and has become a really great friend of mine too, which is an absolute gift. Number three? There are lots to choose from of course… I also love to read Raised by Wolffs. A great inspirational blog with weekly muses, great pictures and another down to earth mama who just floats my boat…
4. What do you like most about the blogging world?
For me the blogging world has always been very kind to me. Up until a few months ago my blogging voice has always come from a far off land, far removed from any sort of real world connections. The sense of community that comes from my readers, the love and the safe-space that they have created within Inked for sharing of ideas, generosity of spirit and kindness is such a positive in my life. I love reading other blogs from all around the world. Getting a glimpse of other worlds, getting inspiration and seeing real life lived in different ways… it’s such a treat!
5. What do you dislike most about the blogging world?
People talk a lot about the competitive nature of blogging, but honestly, I haven’t seen it so much. Maybe the difference is in the reason I blog, I’m not sure. In saying that however, I have found it very difficult to network with Australian bloggers, but that is likely to have something more to do with me than anyone else.
I guess the thing I dislike most about the blogging world is the idea that some blogs seem to foster… an idea of perfection. I find that a lot of parenting blogs are so shiny and perfect that it can encourage people to feel bad about their ability to live up to such highly beautiful, stylised and perfected examples of photography, food, children, parenting… I like it real and honest. You know… Life is beautiful, but it’s also ugly too… Life is happy but there is also lots of sadness… We should all strive to be the best we can be, not the best someone else portrays and I think it’s easy to lose that… sometimes it just reminds me of fashion magazines and air brushing – it’s pretty, but how real is it? I’m a big fan of the full picture. But again, that’s just me…
So go on, visit Sash. Blog / Facebook
Sounds like my kind of blog,and I couldn't agree with her more, the "perfect" blogs send me into a cold sweat for just how imperfect we here in Polly land are. I'll definitely be following along.
ReplyDeleteYep we are imperfect here too, but I think blogs show the good bits only because at the end of the day it's healthy to focus on the positive. Although as a reader I like to hear the bad bits too, because it's often those bits I can relate to.
DeleteSash is wonderful to read, such an honest and inspiring woman. I don't just say that because she recommended me either (which is lovely and sweet and I had no idea so thanks).
ReplyDeleteIf anyone is interested I've moved the blog from raised by wolffs to www.littlewolff.com
Thanks Lila. I will change the link so that it takes you to your new blog. (which I also love by the way- thanks Sash for recommending it!)
DeleteI can't wait to have a free moment to sit down and check out her blog...it sounds wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI also think the idea of perfection has a lot to do with perception and what you think is perfect.
But yes, I totally agree that we as mothers do not need any additional pressure to seem perfect!
It is!
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