Today's Sunday Snippet features the lovely Paula from Cornflakegirl's Musings. I love the mix of topics Paula blogs about and I can always find something intriguing to read about. I love her reading reviews and spend time writing down names and links regularly. Check out our interview below.
1. Can you tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Paula; I was born and raised in Dublin but moved to Kerry a few years ago. You can usually find me online talking about the following; books, feminism, LGBTQ* rights and experiences, politics and current affairs and my love of all things skincare.
2. How did you get into blogging and why?
I started blogging in 2011. After commenting on Beaut.ie for a long time and getting to know some other bloggers there I decided to set up my own and Cornflakegirl’s Musings was born. It has been through some major changes since then and is no longer the beauty blog it once was. Now I like to describe it as a blog about life, politics, books and skincare.
I still love makeup as much as I did when I began blogging, but my heart was no longer in writing about it every day so I expanded the blog to cover my other interests. It means that when I do write about something it’s because I have something to say about it and not because I feel like I have to say something about it because every other blogger is.
3. What do you do when you aren’t working on your blog?
When I’m not blogging I can usually be found with a book or my Kindle in my hand. If I’m not reading, I am probably taking a photo of something or other. I take all my photos with my phone and I’m always working on improving my skills, whether it is with blog photos or the food pictures, scenery shots and flower pictures that I regularly Instagram.
4. Are you a full time blogger?
No, blogging is a hobby for me. I have nothing but respect for people who have taken their blog full time. I set aside one day a week, usually a Saturday or Sunday, to batch take photos and write up posts for the week ahead. I currently publish posts on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Monday is book reviews, Wednesday is beauty related, Friday is a mix of personal, political and opinion based posts and on Sunday I have a round up of articles, blog posts and stuff from the internet that caught my attention that week.
5. How do you keep coming up with content for your blog?
I‘ve found blogging difficult in the past and took an expectedly long break a couple of years back because I needed the time out. Since returning to blogging I’ve found that mainly sticking to the schedule mentioned above makes coming up with content much easier.
It helps that I read a lot. Be it books, newspapers, magazines, websites or other blogs you never know where you’ll find inspiration. When an idea strikes me, I’ll either jot it down in my blogging notebook or note it in my phone.
6. Name some of the bloggers whom you look up to and why?
and
7. Name the top blogs you read?
There are lots of bloggers that I look up to and have been inspired by. If I try to name them all (a) I’ll be here all day and (b) I’ll inevitably forget some, so I’m just going to mention five that I look forward to seeing in my Bloglovin’ feed.
Superlatively Rude - http://www.superlativelyrude.com/
I came across Laura Jane Williams’ blog some time last year and spent hours devouring all her previous posts. Laura’s writing is raw, honest and often times heartbreaking. It always makes me think and makes me cry when I didn’t even realise I needed to cry, but it’s nothing but cathartic. Anyone who reads my This Week I’ve Been Reading blog posts will know that I link to Laura’s blog regularly. Laura recently published a collection of personal essays, about her life, her travels and deciding to live the life you really want, as an ebook and is working a full length book at the moment.
Girl Lost In The City - http://girllostinthecity.com/
Emma Gannon’s blog covers everything from books to fashion to feminism and everything in between.Emma’s writing is smart, interesting and accessible. She works at Glamour magazine (UK edition) and her book recommendations are always ones to take note of. She’s currently writing a book, Ctrl, Alt; Delete: How I Grew Up and Stayed Sane Online, which will be published in 2016.
Nurse Fancy Pants - http://nursefancypants.blogspot.ie/
If it’s beauty, lifestyle, books, pop culture and feminism you’re after then you can’t go far wrong with Chloe’s blog, Nurse Fancy Pants. I love the mix of posts; to be honest I’ll read whatever Chloe has written as I enjoy her style so much. As a skincare lover and avid reader her skincare and book posts inevitably lead to my to-read and to-buy lists growing.
Behind Green Eyes - http://www.behindgreeneyes.com/
Sharon’s blog is a no-nonsense lifestyle, book and beauty blog. It is full of reviews that aren’t afraid to tell it like it is regardless of whether she loves a product or thinks it isn’t worth the money. Sharon has a way with words that cuts through the PR bumf surrounding so many products which is always welcome in the blogging world and her monthly book round ups always lead to my own to-read list growing in number.
Sailboat - http://www.sailorjennie.com/
Sailboat is a UK personal, beauty and lifestyle blog written by Jennie May. I’ve been a reader of Jennie’s blog for a long time and love that she isn’t afraid to blog about whatever takes her fancy, even when it means writing personal posts.
8. What makes you read the above blogs?
Authenticity. No matter what they write about each of the people mentioned above comes across as natural and true to themselves, which is a big thing for me because nine times out of 10 it is how well I connect with a blogger that draws me to their blog.
9. Tell us something we don't know about you?
There was a time when people thought I could sing I’m in the Mood for Dancing, by The Nolans, in Japanese. I can’t. I strung a bunch of random Japanese words together once, when I was drunk, and happened to remember the order when asked to sing it again. The whole thing makes me cringe when I think about it now.
10. Link us to all of your social media platforms.
Instagram – https://instagram.com/c_musings/
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/C_Musings/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/C_Musings
I hope you all enjoyed the interview and make sure to pop over to Paula's social media links!
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