11 things you didn’t know about me

My darling friend, Aleasha, very kindly nominated me for a Leibster Award and I am thrilled to take up the challenge. If you haven’t heard of it before it’s a little Q&A that is designed to recognise and link-up new or newish bloggers by asking them 11 questions all about themselves. Who doesn’t like talking about themselves right?!

I met Aleasha when we were both pregnant in China, and shared some very funny and some very intense moments in Beijing while we tried to navigate new motherhood and the craziness of expat life. I so wish we still lived in the same city, or even the same country, (Aleasha and her family are now in Finland) but at least we can catch-up through the interwebs and Aleasha’s beautiful blog, Little Traveller Things.

So here are the questions, Aleasha asked me as part of her nomination for the Leibster Award. Thanks so much for asking!

What made you decide to start blogging?

I am a writer by trade and I first created a blog in 2008.  I wrote one post and decided my life wasn’t interesting enough to continue posting (I now really wish I had kept it up anway!). Then we moved to Beijing in 2012 and I was like, ‘okay, if this isn’t material for a blog, I don’t know what is!’.

What do you find most challenging about blogging?

I have so many ideas for blog posts but no time to write. So posting consistently is the hardest thing for me. That and some of the technical stuff. It can be a steep learning curve but it’s so worth it when you master something. I am getting the hang of WordPress now and I’m very proud of myself for just creating a professional site for my freelance writing business on Squarespace. 

What is your favourite thing about being a blogger?

The sweet people I have come to know through blogging. It’s all about the community for me.

What is the story behind you blog name?

My nickname has been Bex since I was a kid but when we moved to Australia I found out Bex was a brand of painkillers. (Highly addictive and potentially toxic painkillers that have since been banned!) Anyway, they were pretty popular among suburban housewives back in the day and the advertisers encouraged ladies to ‘have a cup of tea, a Bex and a nice lie down’ if they were having a difficult afternoon. It’s not the best name, but it makes me laugh!

What does your average day look like?

I’m at home with my 22-month-old son, so a typical day involves fun with him. I am doing a spot of freelance writing as well, so I sometimes squeeze in some work while he naps. We are so lucky to live in Sydney with the fabulous weather and so much to do. The other week we did the zoo, the beach and a show at the Opera House all in a matter of days. Not bad!

What one thing would you never leave home without?

My iPhone! Not to keep in touch but to take photos to feed my Instagram addiction.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

We are totally spoilt living in Sydney. It’s hard for anywhere to beat it really but I wouldn’t mind living closer to my family in the English countryside.

Can you describe yourself in three words?

Dizzy, curious, (often) anxious!

What is your one vice?

Pink fizzy wine.

What are you most proud of?

It’s such a cliche, but my son. He makes me proud (and drives me crazy) every single day.

What’s a piece of advice you’d give to a newbie blogger?

Just keep posting, even if no-one is reading to start with. Do it because it makes you happy.

My nominations

I’ve nominated three of my wonderful pals from Emily Quinton’s Makelight Worldwide course. All three of these lovely ladies have given me so much support and friendship. Thank you sweet friends. x

1. Cloverhome.nl Pauline has been the most wonderful Instagram friend and she has just started writing a blog – Cloverhome – which is filled to the brim with beautiful photos and an insight into her life in the Netherlands. Such a lovely read.
2. Rosenrotes.de Silke is a jewellery maker – her creations are just divine, as are her photographs. I love Silke’s visual style and how she uses such gorgeous colours and textures in her work. Go and take a look! We’ve actually taken two online classes together now and I’m so happy to call Silke a friend.
3. xxbirdhouse  It’s one of the weird things about the internet that you can get to know someone without ever having met in the flesh. Olivia is such a wonderful online pal and her sunny photos and sweet comments never fail to brighten my day. She started blogging earlier this year and I have just realised I’ve missed a couple of posts. So sorry Olivia! Signing up for notifications now. x

Rules

Rules are pretty simple:

-Each nominee must link back to the person who nominated them.
-Answer the eleven questions given to you by the nominator.
-Nominate three other bloggers who have less than 200 followers.
-Create 11 questions for the nominees to answer.
-Let the nominees know they have been nominated.

Your questions

Some questions are the same as above plus a few new ones:

What made you decide to start blogging?

What do you find most challenging about blogging?

What is your favorite thing about being a blogger?

What is the story behind you blog name?

What are your three blogging essentials?

If you could take a holiday anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Can you describe yourself in three words?

Tulips or roses?

Tea or coffee?

Can you share one tip for creating a fabulous Instagram feed like yours?

What’s a piece of advice you’d give to a newbie blogger?

Look forward to reading your posts, but there is absolutely no pressure to join in 🙂