Hello lovelies! Today I have a Thursday surprise for you: a guest post from Miranda’s Notebook. Miranda is one of most prolific sponsors and it’s always a joy to have her on my sidebar.
1. What goals for you have for yourself in regards to blogging this year?
My blog goals relate primarily to content and organization! I have some ideas for new series that I’m excited about and want to develop further, and I want to get better about keeping up with some existing series, as well as always having my blog calendar up to date. As always, too, I want to keep expanding my skills, especially in cooking, photography, photo editing and writing! I’d also love to learn how to edit videos, as I definitely want to start a youtube cooking series: that’s probably top of the list!
2. You’ve had incredible blog growth since you started. What are the keys to your success?
You’re so sweet Amanda, but I think you’re being too kind! I try not to get hung up over numbers, and I think the biggest key to my ‘success’ so far is that I genuinely enjoy blogging so much. I’d blog even if only my mum read it! Having this philosophy really helps on the days when you do feel like only your parents read your blog and you’re never going to get a large readership. Keeping things in perspective and having a real love for the content you’re creating keeps the joy alive, and helps you feel consistently creatively fulfilled and inspired. I think readers sense genuine passion, and it makes it easier to connect to like-minded people. I feel really lucky to have met some wonderful people and made amazing connections through blogging already. Honestly, my blog has brought me so many lovely experiences, even just in that it inspires me to get out and do more! I never have a wasted weekend these days, and that’s pretty wonderful. So whether my blog grows or not, I feel my life is enriched simply by the process of creating this space online, and I’ll always be grateful for that.
3. What would you recommend as your favourite London summer activities?
Cocktails on roof terraces (one of my very favourite roof terraces is at Orrery); picnics in parks (I’m planning one in Kew Gardens in a couple of weeks!); open-air films at Somerset House; hunting down the best ice-cream in the city and walks on Hampstead Heath.
4. What are you most looking forward to this summer?
Having some time off work! I’m really looking forward to being able to be more social and spending lots of time with friends. I also can’t wait to have time to pursue some more of my own creative projects.
5. What is the one new piece of clothing that you are dying to own for the summer?
Hmm, it sounds odd as I do love fashion, but I don’t think there’s anything I’m especially coveting at the moment. I did a bit of shopping in the early spring so I feel fairly sorted when it comes to my summer wardrobe. Probably no one will believe this, but I actually hate shopping! I only do it a few times a year, when I have a specific idea of items I need for my wardrobe, and my max. tolerance is 2-3 shops in a day.
6. What’s the best novel you’ve read lately?
Vanessa and Her Sister by Priya Parmar. It’s a fictionalized account of the relationship between Virginia Woolf and her sister Vanessa Bell and is utterly wonderful: so well written and impeccably researched.
7. What is one thing you’re super proud of that you’ve accomplished lately?
Erm, can I say starting a blog?! I’m pretty proud of that accomplishment still!! I also became a qualified teacher within the last year, which was a big milestone as well.
8. Any upcoming travel plans?
I don’t have big plans at the moment – sadly! I’m hoping to do lots of day trips around the UK over the summer, and I’d love to go back to Geneva (where I lived for many years) to see friends soon.
9. What is the best recipe that you’ve stumbled across lately?
When I was at a dinner party the other night, my friend served a Japanese canapé that was absolutely delicious – rather like a flat turkey meatball, made with soya sauce and coated in breadcrumbs and sesame seeds before being baked in the oven. I asked her for the recipe, and I can’t wait to try it out myself! I love getting recipes from friends and family: it’s great to have that personal connection and memory associated with a dish.
10. Your food styling is brilliant! Any tips for readers out there?
Thanks so much! I like to try to create a story, or a particular mood with my shoots, so I think carefully about the props I use. I also try to use objects of different shapes and levels within my photographs, to make them a little more visually interesting. My number 1 tip though, is give yourself time to experiment and don’t try to do a food shoot when you’re starving and want to eat what you’re photographing, or have impatient guests waiting in the wings! Oh, and good lighting is essential.
That’s all, folks! I hope you’ve enjoyed your session with Miranda, and I highly encourage you to go check out her blog!
