Confessions of a Blogger

I was tagged by Bonnie from A Compass Rose and Gina from Sweet Serenity on the Confessions of a Blogger post that has been going around the blogosphere. 

You can join in too, the rules are simple; answer the nine provided confessions, including the one written by the person who tagged you and come up with a tenth to answer.  

1. When did you first start blogging and why? 
March 26, 2012. I had finally made the decision to move to London and developed a love for blogs about moving/living abroad. I first started this blog as a creative outlet in case the big move turned out to be a 'failure' and I'd have at least a little something to show for my time here.  It's turned into so much more.

2. Have you had any past online presence?
I'm in love with social media and love getting into the new things out there--except twitter, I never got into twitter (am I the only one?)--I had started a tumblr the year before called 'I heart tea', it's mostly full of pictures and reblogs of food, clothes, gif s of dogs and tea.

3. When did you become serious about your blog?
When will I become serious about my blog more like. I'm still just doing this purely for my enjoyment, if others happen to come along and take some glee out of what I create than all the better.

4. What was your first blog post. 
My first blog post was an introduction to my intentions of what I aspired this blog to be. It's funny how you plan things to be one way and how they usually, naturally go into a different direction.  Be open to the flow.

5. What have been your biggest challenges blogging. 
All the techie stuff. I'm not that good with programming or web design and when I've managed to add or change something with the look of my blog and not ruin the whole thing, it's been a good day. There's so much more I'd like to do with it, I'll get there one day...
I also do struggle with the balance of how much happy to present, life isn't always roses and candy, but I don't like to dwell on the negative. Realistic? Not at all, but it's what I'm comfortable with for now.

6. What is the most rewarding thing about blogging? 
Making connections with people is probably the most rewarding thing about blogging for me. I love when I have a new comment to a post and I get to interact with people with similar interests. I enjoy sharing the things I see around me and love when people tell me how it reminds them about their own travels and experiences.

7. What is the most discouraging thing about blogging?

It's sometime discouraging when the inspiration to write just isn't there. I could have viewed the most beautiful location and met the most interesting of people, but sometimes the words just don't want to come and I'm left with using the words, "It was nice" over and over.
Also discouraging is that this hasn't magically provided me with income to live off so that I could continue to live in England without the pesky expiration date of a work visa (11 more months *single tear*). 

8. What is your lasting inspiration or motivation?
People keep saying to me, "You're doing things," meaning I'm not stuck in a rut going to work, coming home, making food and going to bed, I'm out there enjoying what's on offer. I want to remember all the things I've been doing and blogging is a great way to journal my time spent. I know if I was back in Canada I wouldn't be "doing things", or at least not nearly as much and I find my inspiration and motivation in making the most of my time here in England. Hopefully, "doing things" will become a habit I keep back on Canadian soil.

9. What is your current goal as a blogger? (asked by Bonnie)

Originally, I think my goal was to have more than just my parents as followers and although I am slowly but surely making my internet presence known, I'm not so concerned with this anymore. My goal is to stay true to myself and to document my time here because I'm having fun and not just for the sake of it because it would make a good post.

I am tagging some of the lovely people I met at the Blogger afternoon tea:

Melanie from Melanie Fontaine

Mandy from Emm in London

Sarah from The Wanderblogger

Tina from Girl Meets Globe

Jacintha from Urban Pixxels

Anna from Eat, See, Do 

Jaklien from Passport and Toothbrush

Samantha from To the Days Like This

My question for them is...

10. What is 'off limits' when blogging? My answer: When I started this blog I wanted it to be travel focused so avoided discussing things like recipes, ootd, or anything non travely. Today, I think is a different story and I'm exploring new areas of discussion that were previously 'off limits'.

Whether you were tagged by me or not, feel free to join in and provide a link in the comment section.

Fun travels!