Behind the Blogger: Get To Know Me

Happy Monday and Labor Day Folks!  Me and a group of some of my favorite home decor bloggers decided to host a "Behind the Blogger...

Happy Monday and Labor Day Folks! 

Me and a group of some of my favorite home decor bloggers decided to host a "Behind the Blogger" series that will span 6 months. The premises behind this series is to give a little bit of an insight of who we are behind the blog and what inspires us to be the designers we are. 

Blog hop series that gives an insight to who we are as bloggers

I shared a bit about me when I was nominated for a Liebster Award

Here is a little more About me: 

Call me Jess or Jessica, but not Jessie. 
My family is INTERRACIAL, both me and the mister are mixed (the mister is Irish and Samoan and I am Black and Filipino). 
People always ask me the weirdest questions in regards to my kids...Like am I their nanny? Are they ALL mine?, What are they?, etc...
I love LOVE love "Once Upon the Time," watching reruns of "The Game"--#teammelanieandderwin and I am bummed they canceled "Witches of East End" 
I cut my hair more than a year ago and it has taken FOREVER  and a day to grow back. 
I have naturally curly hair...and look extremely different when it is straight. 

Why did I start a blog? 

I wanted to start a blog back in 2008, I just did not know how and whether it was the right time. I am glad I did not...I mean, what would I have written about?...I was a fresh out of college, newly married, and a new mom. My lifestyle, probably would not interest many people. 

Something clicked the ending of 2012 and I made the decision to start a blog come the new year. With a background in design, I new that was the niche I wanted to tackle. I have an eclectic style with a vintage, edgy flair and I wanted to share it with you....I have to start somewhere, right?

My blogging goals: 

To be honest, this blog is one way I plan to brand myself. When I was in college I had these dreams of becoming a successful Architect and making it into "Southern Home Magazine"...Yep, you read that right. At that time in my life I wanted to be an Architect and "Southern Home Magazine" was one of the top magazine's back in the day. It was not until after my second child was born that I realized that becoming an Architect is not the path I wanted to take and that my true passion was interior design. When I was in college I did not heed to the signs--everyone told me I had an eye for interior design...I was even told to double major in Interior Design and Industrial Design (<The field I majored in), but I chose not to listen. I guess you can say, blogging is a way of expressing myself and my design style. Although I am older and have 3 kids who are attached to my hip, I still have dreams and those dreams will become my reality. My success may not be big and grand, but I whole-heartedly believe that I will accomplish my goals--the fight is in me. 

What do I like about blogging: 

I never knew that I could find friends through blogging. I have built some great relationships with some of my favorite bloggers and I am so thankful for that! I am a bit of an introvert and I can count my closest friends on one hand. I am not one to wonder into the wilderness and to just put myself out there.....So this is BIG for me. 

If I can go back is there anything I would change about my blog and why? 

Good question! I would have definitely invested in a better camera BEFORE I started blogging. I waited a year after I started my blog to purchase a DSLR and shot everything on a point and shoot digital camera prior to my purchase...and looking back, my blog photos were horrible. 

Do you have any advice to share with a newbie blogger? 

Be patient, try not to stress yourself out, and make some friends along the way. 

Please stop by the other host's site to learn more about them behind the scene's. 

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61 comments

  1. Great post, love reading bloggers get to know me.

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  2. I love posts like this. I love reading all about people's pasts, presents and the goals they have for themselves. Thank you for sharing this with us.

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  3. It's so great learning about you Jess! I had no idea you went to design school. You must be a young mama like me! I had my son while I was still in college and my daughter not long after...so the dream of working in the fashion field took the back seat...and the dreams are still there, but being a mom is number 1 right now!

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    1. Being a mom is definitely #1 on my list. Now that my kids are older, I feel like I can start re-living my dream. I am happy that they support me. I can totally see you doing a mix of fashion and decor. I believe that one's sense of fashion is a good reflection of their home decor style.

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  4. I love getting to know the bloggers! Design school, now it makes sense! HA
    Cynthia @craftoflaughter

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  5. I definitely know what you mean by getting a camera. That's on my christmas wish list. But we shall see. My iPhone6 does its job for now.

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    1. Yes, I use both my iPhone and DSLR. I love the fact that I can edit on the spot with my iPhone.

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  6. I love these posts! The Hopping Bloggers is doing a similar series, you should check it out! It's been a lot of fun participating and getting to know my fellow bloggers!

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    1. Thanks. What is the link to the The Hopping Bloggers? I tried googling it and nothing came up.

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  7. This is such a cool series to get to know you better. I enjoyed learning about you. I am hosting a live meetup on blab tonight for bloggers... Blab is like Periscope meets Hangout you can read about it here: http://creativehouseblog.com/lets-blab/

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    1. Thanks for stopping by. I missed it, but I need to get on board with this.

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  8. I love these types of posts! It was great getting to know you and your blog a bit better. I've been thinking about upgrading my camera...I guess I really should! I keep hearing everyone talk about what a difference it makes!

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  9. Witches of East End was cancelled?!?!?! NO!!!!!!! Other than that, I loved reading this post. Great to get to know you a little better. Love your blog. :)

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    1. I know right! NOO was what I was yelling when I found out. They should bring back at least another season(s)...like they did with the "The Game" and "Drop Dead Diva"

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  10. What! Witches of East End was cancelled!!! I had no idea and clearly neither did Shann. It's amazing to find you have things in common with fellow bloggers who get to know you through your projects. This was great to read and see your motivation to blogging. I too wanted to be in a magazine....well still do.

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    1. I know, the cancellation of Witches of East End caught me off guard....I love that show! We still have time to make it into a magazine. Hopefully soon, my dreams of home ownership will come true so I can go hard core DIY.

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  11. Isn't that funny... Industrial Design is the one thing I've thought, if I ever went back to school, that's what I would like to study! And, YES! Invest in a good camera. Sure it's an investment, but oooh the heartache it solves is well worth it! Great post, Jess! :)

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  12. So fun! I also wanted to start a blog long before I started mine. And I also had a moment where it clicked and I new what I wanted to blog about. Fun post!

    www.truncationblog.com

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    1. It is funny that we know exactly what to do when it is the right time.

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  13. Dang girl they canceled Witches of East End!? Nooooooo!!!!!!! So bummed.
    I love your post though, I'm a introvert too so it's nice to see we make great bloggers!

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    1. Thanks Bethany for the sweet comment.....I know everyone is bummed about Witches of East End....We should all sign a petition to bring it back.

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  14. Great post Jess! I felt like I was learning a lot about you today :) I mostly write about my vegetarian life, hope you can check my blog out soon. Warm regards!

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    1. Thanks Julie for your sweet comment and for stopping by. I will check out your site. I will check your site out.

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  15. I enjoyed reading about your past dreams and your current dreams. :) It's always interesting to see how dreams and goals change over time.

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    1. Yes, it is...everything will eventually come together.

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  16. Yay! I always loved getting to know more about my blogging friends - sometimes I think blogging can become really impersonal and all about putting out that Pinterest-perfect project, but I love the chance to connect with the person BEHIND the projects! :)

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    1. Exactly! I am always so curious to know more about my favorite home decor bloggers without asking them...I do not want to come off as nosey. I would love if they shared even a snippet of who they are behind the blog to get a better idea of who they are and what inspires them.

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  17. Aww this was fun to read! I'm the same with my name - call me Jac or Jaclyn, but do not call me Jackie!

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  18. Great post! Thanks for letting get a sneak peek into your world!

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  19. I enjoyed reading this. I also love Once Upon a Time!--Thanks for the tip for us Newbies.

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  20. Fun post to read, it's nice to get to know the person behind the blog. I think a DSLR is totally worth the investment for a blog it makes a huge difference.

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  21. I love this idea and it's great being able to get to know you better. I love Once Upon a Time!

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  22. This is great. Love these type of posts and getting to know the bloggers behind the blogs a little bit more! Love your advice for newbie bloggers, very important! - Jeanine

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  23. Boy, can I relate to not having had a clue about blogging in 2008. The difference is I did have a blog (and quite a successful one for my albeit tiny niche) back then. I also started a new one (my current one) in 2013. Oh, and I can totally relate to rarely having your hair cut, though mine grows pretty fast.

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  24. I love reading "get to know me" posts, and I'm planning on doing some more of these on my blog! But even though this is not the purpose of this post...THEY CANCELLED WITCHES OF EAST END???? I had no idea!!! Scuse me while I drown my sorrow in a bottle of wine

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    1. Haha, yeah I read it online...I was feeling it for days. We need to sign a petition to bring it back

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  25. I completely agree with the camera comment and investing in pictures. I have not done that yet but I'm trying to brand more and grow into my blog. I also am a SUPER introvert and have made so many friends through blogging and networking. :)

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  26. Love when other bloggers get a little personal and behind the scenes! I also look back on my first photos and cringe a little, ha. I totally agree with making blogger friends...I never knew such great relationships could grow from reading each other's blogs and connecting!

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    1. I know, right? I know you aren't suppose to delete old post, but I just had to...it was embarrassing.

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  27. I love these kinds of posts! And for the record, when people ask you if "your the nanny" just smile and say "No..I collect children at the grocery store..it's just a game I like to play". Then they will leave you alone!

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    1. Great Reply Heather...I need to remember that one!

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  28. I loved reading this. It's always awesome to get to know the person behind the blog, and I do like your blog so I enjoyed reading about you, thanks for sharing!

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  29. He who waits gets all? I'm glad you waited till you knew what you wanted to blog about. It definitely gave you the required edge to get ahead. I wish you a lot of beautiful, design ideas. P.S. People always ask me if my kids are my kids too and if they are all mine. Weird, weird people :)))

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  30. Thank you so much for sharing a little piece of yourself. I know you'll accomplish your dream! You're amazing, and I'm so glad we found each other!

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  31. Thank you for sharing about yourself and your blog! I love reading about other blogger's journeys!!

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  32. And they were right you really do have an eye for interior design but it is amazing how the paths we choose lead us into different directions.
    http://www.fadedspring.co.uk

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    1. You are so right! It is crazy the paths we take in life to reach our dream.

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  33. Jess, I loved learning more about you! Your family is beautiful and you have GREAT style, at home and fashion! Love your outfit in the pic! Blogging friends are great. I didn't expect to meet so many great people.

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  34. I loved learning a little bit more about you! You have a beautiful family and your style is amazing! I agree with you that having a DSLR is important from the beginning. I have been lucky enough to have been borrowing my friends but now I need to learn to use Manuel mode :)

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  35. I love reading these posts - what a fun series! I'm an introvert, too and love this little blogging community we've developed!

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  36. I really enjoyed reading this! It is great to get to know a bit more about you. Crazy they way life works isn't it? I studied business and econ and ended up going back to school to be a teacher.

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