I’m writing this post from Gate 12 at Melbourne Airport as I wait for my flight back to Sydney. I have spent the last two days at Problogger Event, the biggest blogging event in Australia. My brain is exploding with all the information I’ve learnt, my mind is racing with ideas, my face is sore from laughing and my heart is filled with love for the blogging world and the people in it.
I learnt so much this weekend but I have also had a huge reality check! I’m serious about my blog and would really like to make Lipstick & Cake bigger and better but I need to get back to basics and remind myself why I started my little baby. I thought I’d start by telling you how I came to blog and why I love doing it.
I have always enjoyed writing and throughout the years my career moves and aspirations have somehow revolved or come back to writing.
From the age of about 6 onwards I wanted to be a journalist, and when Teri Hatcher hit the screen as Lois on Lois and Clark, I wanted to be a ‘Lois-like reporter’ with a matching hairstyle.
Throughout my school years my favourite subjects were English and History and I was often on the school newspapers. I’m not quite sure why I didn’t end up studying journalism or communications, but somewhere there I got a little off track and ended up studying business and event management.
In 2006 I started my first blog when Beau and I moved overseas. We used the blog as a virtual postcard home and our families and friends followed us on our adventures. After returning home I stopped blogging and didn’t think about it for another few years.
My first blog – poor grammar, spelling mistakes and many stories involving drinking
About two years ago I was feeling restless. I felt that I was meant to do something big with my life and that I had a calling but was yet to uncover it. It was after a visit to a psychic that I started thinking about writing again. Although I took what she said with a grain of salt, it just felt right when she said that she saw me eventually working as a writer and one day have a book published. I was reading many blogs at the time and started to be really intrigued by the world of blogging again.
When initially deciding what I wanted to blog about I was torn between beauty and food but both were passions of mine, and were topics that provided limitless content so I decided to be different and start a food and beauty blog, Lipstick & Cake.
I wanted to create a blog that informed, educated and inspired my readers. I taught myself how to cook and do my own makeup and I wanted to help others to do the same and take them on my quest to be a better cook and an expert in beauty.
I think that Problogger Event came at the right time for me as lately I’ve been feeling a little lost with Lipstick & Cake. I really enjoy sharing recipes with you and reviewing products, trying new looks and interviewing experts, but I have really been wondering if that’s what you, my reader, is interested in?
Lipstick & Cake is just as much for you as it is for me and I would love to know what you want to see on the blog. I would be so grateful if you could spare just a minute or two to fill out this quick survey. Tell me what you like about the blog and what you want to see more of.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2F5SBVC
And THANK YOU! Thank you for supporting me and Lipstick & Cake!
If you would like to pass on any feedback, post ideas or just say hi then please don’t hesitate to contact me. Drop me an email at Stephanie (at) lipstickandcake.com
Photo Source: http://123daysofsummer.blogspot.com/p/freebies.html
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Fabulous post (I won’t even start telling you how jealous I am that I wasn’t at the Problogger event!).
Can’t wait to see where you take Lipstick & Cake. It’s one of my favourite blogs to read. x
I’ve felt a little the same since the event! Hopefully next time we can actually meet
Can’t wait to see what you come up with Steph. Love your blog! So glad we met. xx
Hi, I’ve only just found your blog {via in spaces between} and already love it. I totally get where you’re coming from with this post. I have been blogging since 2006 and the beginning of the year i decided to just delete everything and start again. I’ve followed a similar path to you, wanted to be a journalist, went in to events and public relations and then decided to take the plunge and just start writing. I did a journalism course and now, I’m a full time writer and consultant (once a pr always a pr). I also saw a psychic who said a similar thing – spooky.
Sometimes you’ve got to just take your dreams and immerse yourself in them!!! Good luck
Love your work Steph. My favourite parts of L&C are your real recipes and beauty tips – your pics are inspiring but also real enough to make them seem achievable! Looking forward to much more loveliness from you xx
Hi Rachael, thank you! How spooky, we’re so similar
I feel so reenergised and enthusiastic about blogging now and just feel that great things are going to happen.
I hope all is going well for you and your blog too, can’t wait to check it out.
xx
Thanks Cheri! I’m so glad we met too xx
I know Carli! I read your post and was kicking myself that we didn’t meet.
I’m still so pumped from the weekend and filled with ideas. I hope it’s permanent and not a fleeting phase.
P.S. Love your photo booth snap