02.02

Cider-with-Rosie-Bow-Bangles-and-Bakes-cover

I’m so excited today to be sharing an interview with a blogger I’ve followed for at least two years now…Jenni, from Bows, Bangles and Bakes! Jenni’s is a lifestyle blog, and on it she posts, quite simply, about the things that make her most happy! I love how relaxed Jenni’s attitude towards blogging is- she simply posts when she wants to, about the things that she loves! It makes her blog all that more lovely to read. So, enough from me, and on to our interview with the wonderful Jenni!

1. Will you tell us a little about how you got started writing Bows, Bangles and Bakes?

Bows Bangles and Bakes started out of my very early wedding plans. Soon after getting engaged I started trawling the internet for inspiration and ideas an came across various wedding blogs. Before that I didn’t really know what a blog was! I think it was A Beautiful Mess that really prompted me into thinking about starting my own blog and eventually giving it a go. My first posts were pretty terrible (honestly go look!) and I think I tried a little too hard to emulate other bloggers writing style before I eventually found my own style and starting blogging about what really interested me.

2. What three words would you use to describe your blog?

This is a difficult one! When I was thinking of name for my blog I read various posts which suggested it should reflect what it is about so I chose three words, Bows, Bangles and Bakes to reflect fashion baking and generally girly-ness which is kinda what my blog was and is. I’ve contemplated changing it – particularly as I don’t bake so much, but I’m a little bit in love with my header. I guess three other words I would choose now are simple lifestyle adventuring! 

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3. Has blogging brought about any changes in your life? And do you have any advice for anyone who might like to start a blog? 

Hmmm not particularly, probably not in the way it has for many other bloggers. I certainly don’t see myself making a career out of blogging and it has nothing to do with (or impact upon) my day job. In fact I very rarely mention my day job on my blog. I think blogging has made me see the beautiful in the simplicity of the everyday and appreciate it much more. I think with how much social media we consume it easy to think everyone is having a better time than you, but actually when you stand back and look at things a different way, you’re probably having a pretty awesome time of it yourself! I think bogging has definitely changed my perceptions!

In terms of anyone thinking of starting a blog I’d say go for it! When I started blogging there was a lot of focus on ‘finding your niche’. When I stopped trying to find my niche and blogged what I cared about and from the heart, I felt much happier in what I was doing.

4. Do you have a favourite type of post to put together?

Out of all the questions I found this hardest to answers as I tend to only do blog posts I enjoy putting together if that makes sense. I certainly don’t do many ‘sponsored’ posts unless I feel really passionate about it or it’s a product I would have considered anyway.

I’m a big book lover so I can happily blog about books all day long – although I do have a tendency to stick to the same author so I have to make a concerted effort to not keep banging on about the same ones!

I do enjoy blogging about my days out and adventuring such as my vintage trip to Kelham hall and especially our family holiday to Northumberland a couple of years back.

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5. As a fellow newlywed, tell us a little about your beautiful wedding! You did a lot of it yourself, right? :) any moments of trial, or particular highlights during the process of planning?

Aww thank you J Yes I practically DIY’ed my entire wedding. Some out of necessity (budget wise) and some out of wanting my wedding to really reflect me and my husband and be very personal to us.

There was a serious point during the making of my bouquet when I seriously questioned what on earth I was doing. Ultimately I’m so glad I persevered as its so special and unique to me but there was a few tears shed over it.

Every element of our wedding was personal to us. So, as my husbands parents come from Glasgow and way back in my linage we also herald from Scotland, we wanted to feature that in our otherwise English wedding. We both have very Scottish surnames and chose a tartan that both of our clans could have traditionally worn (see we really thought this through!) which set the whole colour scheme from there. I think my venue stylist coined it “homemade highland vintage” which is definitely what it was. Our table names were rare Scottish whiskeys which got everyone talking, and my card box was a vintage suitcase which I lined with copies of my great grandparents love letters which we had found inside.

We did have particularly good fun picking our wedding song – again we wanted to stick with our Scottish theme but have a little fun. I found an acoustic version of The Proclaimers 500 miles, by a band called Sleeping at Last (after watching the Commonwealth games opening ceremony) and gt our DJ to mix the original version in once everyone was up on the dancefloor. Again this provided a real talking point, even now, when it gets played and no one believes its your wedding song!

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6. What might Cider with Rosie readers be surprised to learn about you? Any secret skills or party tricks?

I’m a bit of an open book really (aside from my work life) so probably not much. Sorry this is a terrible answer – even my husband couldn’t think of anything! 

7. Your recent posts tell me you’re in the process of buying a house at the moment! Would you share with us your vision for your dream new home?

I recently shared some of my ideas for my plans for my interior, but my dream house would be something really period. We are buying a 1950s ex council semi which doesn’t have much in the way of period features but is big on space and solidly built. In an ideal world (and if we had many in our local area) I’d love a big old Victorian property with big bay windows, original coving, beautiful wooden floors and gorgeous original feature fireplaces. Even though that’s not what we are getting I’m a big believer in any house can be a home, even if its not your dream one, if the right special people are in it. 

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8. And finally, it’s our old favourite Desert Island Discs! If you were stranded on a desert island, what would you bring along for the ride? You can bring two albums/CDs, two books, two films, ingredients to make a meal, and one luxury item!

My first CD choice would have to be Stereophonics as I’m a pretty big fan. I’d normally choose the first album, Word Gets around, but as it’s desert island disc I’m cheating slightly and choosing Decade in The Sun (which is a Best of collection.)My second choice I my current car album which is ‘When Cool Was King’ which is a collection of Jazz and Swing classics, from Etta James and Frank Sinatra, to Amy Winehouse and Michael Buble – for when I’ve had enough rocking out and just need to chill. 

When it comes to books you’ve got a take a Harry Potter book right? No matter how many times I read any of them I never get bored. My favourite is Prisoner of Azkaban but as that’s mid way through the series I may get a bit irritated by the story not being finished so I’ll go with the Philosophers Stone on this occasion. Second book would be The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton. I love all Kate Morton’s books, but that is my favourite. 

Films I’d take Footloose as its always been one of my favourite musical dancey type films. The second would be the Notebook as everyone needs to have a good cry sometimes.

I love cooking pasta dishes – especially creamy ones! So the ingredients to make a super creamy cheesy carbonara.

Luxury item would have to be skincare. I can cope without make up straighteners etc but I’m really particularly about my skin, so my cleanser toner and moisturiser would be my luxury item. I’ve recently swapped from super expensive (but still amazing) Clarins, to Tropic, which I discovered at a friends home skincare party and I’ve loved ever since.

~ ~ ~

Didn’t you just love Jenni’s answers? Head over to Bows, Bangles and Bakes now and say hello, and don’t forget to follow along via Bloglovin‘!

p.s. Click through to the Sponsor page to find out more about advertising on Cider with Rosie!

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31.12

Cider-with-Rosie-Mirandas-Notebook-cover

It’s so lovely to be sharing an interview with Miranda here with you today. She really is so lovely, and since I’m guessing that most of you reading here are pretty fond of lifestyle blogs in general, you’re in for a treat with Miranda’s Notebook! On her blog, Miranda shares a range of content that vary from delicious recipes and beautiful outfit posts, to tutorials and lifestyle posts. Everything Miranda posts has such personality and a unique quality to it, and I’m certain you’re going to love her blog! So without further ado, let me introduce you to…Miranda’s Notebook!

1. Will you tell us a little about how you got started writing Miranda’s Notebook, and what it means to you?

I was looking for a creative outlet, and I’ve always enjoyed sharing what I love with friends, so a blog felt like a natural progression! I also really enjoy taking photographs, and developing my photography skills over the past year has been one of the most fun aspects of blogging for me.

2. What three words would you use to describe your blog?

Probably the 3 words in the subtitle: stylish confident living!

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3. Would you tell us a little about your blogging process? What do you find comes easiest to you- the words, or the pictures?

I honestly love both, and both are equally important to me. I adore visual blogs, but I always appreciate well-written articles too, so I always try to make both the aesthetic and written content the best that I can. I tend to brainstorm ideas, then get the photographs that I need for them, and the writing comes from there.

4. Has blogging brought about any changes in your life?

It’s made me a lot busier! In a good way though. :) Balancing working with blogging can be a challenge, but it’s made me learn so much about myself and ways in which I work best. Writing a blog has also given me lots of wonderful new experiences and introduced me to some lovely people, for which I’m very grateful.

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5. You write in your About page that you hope your blog can inspire people to feel confident seeking their own style. How did you go about formulating your own personal style- is there any advice you’d like to share? :)

The biggest advice I can share about style is that it means so much more than fashion, and is really down to the taste and lifestyle of the individual. To me, being stylish means being comfortable in your own skin, gracious to all around you and living life to the fullest. My personal style icon is Audrey Hepburn, as I feel she perfectly embodied all those traits.

6. What might Cider with Rosie readers be surprised to learn about you? Any secret skills or party tricks?

I used to do a lot of ballet when I was younger, and I’m still pretty flexible!

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7. Since the year’s drawing to a close, will you share with us three of your favourite posts from the year, and why you’re especially fond of them?

Hmm, I enjoy writing all my posts for different reasons, so it’s hard to choose! I had a brilliant time when I got to explore Hastings: it made me determined to travel around the UK a bit more, as there are so many fabulous places to see (and having grown up in the USA and France, I haven’t seen as much of Britain as I would like).

One of my favourite things to do is write mini guides to my most-loved London areas, so I would definitely pick my Lamb’s Conduit Street Guide as a post I really enjoyed writing.

Finally, through Miranda’s Notebook I’ve been very grateful to have the opportunity to interview some fascinating artists, writers, bakers and shop-owners (all with a London connection). A recent interview was with the Hackney-based textile designer and artist Cressida Bell (granddaughter of Vanessa Bell and great-niece of Virginia Woolf). I am fascinated by the Bloomsbury Group and love Cressida’s artwork, so it was wonderful to have a chat with her at her studio.

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8. And finally, it’s our old favourite Desert Island Discs! If you were stranded on a desert island, what would you bring along for the ride? You can bring two albums/CDs, two books, two films, ingredients to make a meal, and one luxury item!

Albums: Jagged Little Pill (Alanis Morissette) and 1989 (Taylor Swift). I feel they’re both full of the kind of tunes that would help me toughen up and get off that island (or at least fully embrace dancing with nobody watching)!

Books: Persuasion and Emma (Jane Austen). Because I never get bored of reading Jane Austen.

Films: Jackie Brown and Kill Bill 2 (Quentin Tarantino). They both have the kind of lead female characters who would make me feel I could do anything!

Meal: My favourite food is always sushi, so I guess I’d be having a go at catching some fish ;D

My luxury item would be a good quality suncream: I’m a bit of a skincare fanatic!

~ ~ ~

Thanks so much Miranda, I loved reading your answers! Head over to Miranda’s Notebook and say hi, and don’t forget to follow along via Bloglovin’!

p.s. This post was part of the Ultimate Advertising Package here on Cider with Rosie. If you’d like to see your own blog featured here (and answer a few of my nosiest questions!) then pop over to the Sponsor page and book up an advert!

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01.12

Cider-with-Rosie-Namaste-from-Ananya-cover

It really has been such a pleasure having Namaste from Ananya linked here on Cider with Rosie throughout the past month. There’s something special about Ana’s blog that always leaves me feeling a little calmer, a little more reflective, and always, always inspired. Ana blogs about her culture, her passion for travel, and the moments of joy in her life, all with such passion and with such beautiful writing that I know you’ll fall in love the minute you click through to her site!

So, enough from me. Over to Ana!

1. Will you tell us a little about how you got started writing Namaste from Ananya?

When I first started blogging, I just wanted a platform to express myself, particularly my Indian heritage and so back in late 2012, The Asian Destination was born! I loved sharing travel advice, sharing the meaning behind much of the Indian traditions and festivals I’d be celebrating whilst adding in a few messages of inspiration my friends have dubbed the ‘Ana Cheesy quotes’!

With experience though comes wisdom and insight. Back in 2014, I was going through a transition period in my life; I realised I was missing out on opportunities simply because I was too scared to try something different. I wanted my blog to be an authentic reflection of who I was and be able to encompass all that I loved about life…and thus, renaming it Namaste from Ananya, seemed fitting.

2. What three words would you use to describe your blog?

Personal, life reflections.

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3. Would you tell us a little about your blogging process? What comes easiest to you- the words, or the pictures?

Though I’m rarely without a camera in my hands, I’ve always found I can express myself much more coherently through writing. That said though, in terms of blogging every post is quite different for me!

Sometimes if there’s been an event, an organisation or book that’s really resonated with me then the words usually haunt me until I’ve written them down! Then it’s a case of finding or taking an appropriate photo. Other times though it’s the other way around.

4. Do you have a favourite type of post to put together? I love your writing *so* much, it’s just beautiful!

Bless you, that’s so lovely to hear! I usually love to share what’s on my mind or what’s affected me recently. At the moment for me, time just feels to slip past these days so I have made more of an effort to try and document the little day-to-day treasures which are often overlooked or forgotten in months to come. I have your blog to thank for inspiring me to start a little Happiness Jar of my own!

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5. You write often about your love for travel. Is there a country or destination you’ve travelled to that captured your heart more than any other?

Maybe I’m heavily biased but India! I feel lucky to be able to experience India through the eyes of both an Indian and as a tourist. There is life in every corner and that’s what I love about it. Like every country, there are darker areas but the vibrancy and colour is like no other place I’ve experienced….yet! Though I go to India every year to see family, I’d love to take a couple of months to explore every inch of the place since each region is so diverse and different.

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6. What might Cider with Rosie readers be surprised to learn about you? Any secret skills or party tricks?

Sadly I don’t have any impressive party tricks to boast about unless you mean demolishing a jar of cashew butter in record speed? ;) (I recommend Meridian Cashew butter for anyone interested!) Aside from that though, most people are surprised to hear that my PhD research involves seeing a lot of placentas. My PhD is in reproductive biology and focusing on trying to prevent babies being born too early. This basically means that aside from being an eternal student, I use the placentas donated by women after their deliveries to experiment on. So if in the future any ladies reading this are approached after their delivery to donate their placenta just know the research student most probably receiving it, is very grateful!

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7. Since the year’s drawing to a close, would you share with us what your highlights from 2015 have been?

I can’t believe how fast 2015 has gone!

My 2015 highlights include:

- Some very special birthday presents – this year I asked my loved ones to write down the answer to a few questions, including: What’s the most important lesson you’ve learnt to date? What advice would you give for the future? Over the course of the year, I’ve found myself reading through them all and just feeling so warmed by such priceless words of wisdom.

- Being part of my friend’s wedding; being part of the preparation and going through the motions, her fears and hesitations made it all the more emotional to see her whole family come together from Canada to be a part of it here in the UK.

- Visiting India is always lovely but this year, one highlight was to see my cousin, after 18 months. She continues to be the ‘miracle baby’ of our family and is such a touching reminder of why I went into reproductive research!

Above all though a personal ‘acceptance’. I look back at this year and feel content, something which is pleasantly surprising for me since usually I’m quite hard on myself. I really wanted to ensure I used every opportunity to face more fears this year. Although I may not have gone travelling around the world solo or jumped out a plane (on my list after the PhD, don’t worry) what I’ve learnt in the process is that fear is relative and doesn’t necessarily mean tackling the huge fears. It might also mean just saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’ more often.

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8. And finally, it’s our old favourite Desert Island Discs! If you were stranded on a desert island, what would you bring along for the ride? You can bring two albums/CDs, two books, two films, ingredients to make a meal, and one luxury item!

It’s hard to choose only 2 books but I think I’d have to narrow it down to:

The Alchemist by Paulo Cohelo

The Nanny by Melissa Nathan is also a great favourite.

For films, I’d have to take The Pursuit of Happyness – I’ve rewatched this film so many times but I love it.

Music: Ludovico Einaudi  & Beyonce – Bit of a random mix but I love both (maybe not together though!)

Above all other ingredients, a supply of mangoes and I’d be happy!

My luxury item would be a film camera – I’d want to document at least some of time there and I like the idea of leaving the film undeveloped, just waiting to be discovered!

~ ~ ~

Thanks so much Ana for such a lovely set of answers! You can find Namaste from Ananya here, and don’t forget to follow along via Bloglovin too!

p.s. If you’d like to see your own blog featured here on Cider with Rosie, click through to the Sponsor page and book up an advert!

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29.09

Cider-with-Rosie-Silverspoon-London-cover

Today I’m so excited to be introducing you to Angie, of Silverspoon London! You might already have noticed Angie’s advert in my sidebar and read a little about her in my monthly advertiser round up posts over the past few months, and so I’m super excited to be sharing a fun Q&A with the lady herself today! Silverspoon London is a luxury travel and lifestyle blog, and is always such a good read. Angie’s posts document her incredible travel and dining experiences, and reading them is such an amazing form of escapism! And so, without further ado, let me introduce you to…Silverspoon London!

1. Will you tell us a little about how you got started writing Silverspoon London? What brought you to blogging, and how did you pick out the name?

I actually started writing a blog as part of a business but I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to do it more for myself so I decided to start a new personal one. I was always going on different travel adventures, trying new restaurants and going to fun events and I wanted a place to record it all. Plus I had lots of people asking me for recommendations all the time, now I can easily direct them to my favourite places and show them pictures of what to have! I started on blogger (the free platform from Google) with a very simple and standard design and then worked on improving it with a template from Etsy and a new logo.

For the name I was about to get married and my new surname would be Silver so I wanted it to tie in with that. I drew up a short list and when I thought of SilverSpoon it was kind of a eureka moment as it reflected everything that I wanted it to be.

2. What three words would you use to describe your blog?

Luxury, travel, food

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3. Would you tell us a little about your blogging process? What comes easiest to you- the words, or the pictures? And do you like to plan your posts well in advance, or just strike when the iron’s hot? :)

I generally start by going through all my photos and choosing the ones I’d like to put in the post and then editing them. Seeing the photo gives me inspiration and reminds me of the experience; such as the taste of a meal and the memories of a beautiful place. I love the writing process and photography didn’t come easily at first but I’ve really worked on my composition and style over the last two years and I’m really seeing a great improvement.

I blog most week days so I have to pretty organised about it and I like to stick to a schedule. I have an excel spreadsheet where I record every day of the week, what I’m going to publish and what category it fits into. I like to keep my content really varied but my schedule is pretty fluid and I’m always moving things around. If I’m going on a trip I’ll write lots of posts in advance so I don’t have the pressure of writing on the go but I still have plenty of content to publish.

4. Has blogging brought about any major changes in your life? Anything especially exciting, or challenging?

The greatest thing about blogging is that you start thinking more out of the box and do different things in order to create new and exciting content. I love travel but I’m really unadventurous and I don’t really like going out of my comfort zone but owing to the blog I force myself to do it because I think it’ll make an interesting story. For example, I’m terrified of heights but I couldn’t visit South Africa without ascending Table Mountain; this meant getting into a cable car to go to the top. I was so scared but so proud that I did it!

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Before the blog I was never interested in photography but now it’s become one of my favourite hobbies. After purchasing my first DSLR camera and attending various classes, I’ve seen my photos grow and grow – the progress is exciting and encourages me to keep working on it and getting better and better.

5. We can’t not talk about travel, in this little interview! Okay, let’s play favourites- what’ve been your top 3 places you’ve ever visited, and why?

The best trip I’ve ever been on was our five week tour of Australia. It’s such an incredible country with a diverse landscape. I’ve never been to a place where I can visit the city, the beach, the rainforest, the mountains and the desert.

I fell in love with South Africa during my recent trip there. We visited Cape Town and the Winelands and drove the Garden Route before finishing off with a safari in Kruger Park. I loved the beautiful scenery, the incredible food and wine and the wonderful luxurious hotels. The safari is one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life, seeing elephants bathe, rhinos play and lions stalk their prey is just an unbeatable experience.

The third is Thailand, as you know ;). Sadly, I think some areas have been ruined by tourism but there’s still lots of special unspoilt spots in the country. I love the exoticism of Thailand, the wonderful people and the beautiful sunshine.

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6. What’re some of your favourite spots in London? Any hidden, or under-rated restaurants or destinations you wouldn’t mind sharing with us?

One of my favourite areas of London is where I live in Victoria. It’s really under-rated because people still see Victoria as a transport hub or just full of offices but actually it been recently redeveloped and now there’s lots of new bars, restaurants and shops. I would highly recommend trying Kouzu for sushi, UNI for Peruvian food and the stunning Goring Hotel for afternoon tea. Also head down to the gorgeous pink bakery Peggy Porschen which sells the best ever cakes! It’s where I got my wedding cake from. Whilst in Victoria there are so many wonderful sights to see including The Houses of Parliament, Westminster Cathedral and Buckingham Palace it’s literally a tourist’s dream.

7. Will you tell us a little about how you met your husband? And, since you’re a few years ahead of me in this whole marriage lark- any advice for how to keep a happy marriage? :)

We started off with just a few casual dates and then it started to get mores serious, and moved in together after a year. After two years we were engaged and after a year and a half of planning we had our dream wedding! As we’re both Jewish we have a similar background and a shared culture but we have lots of other things in common too like our love of food and travel! It sounds obvious but a happy marriage is definitely all about compromise. I’m a planner whereas my husband is spontaneous and we work at finding a happy medium. I also think that when you’re married it’s important to still have date nights and make sure you keep the romance very much alive.

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8. And finally, it’s our old favourite Desert Island Discs! If you were stranded on a desert island, what would you bring along for the ride? You can bring two albums/CDs, two books, two films, ingredients to make a meal, and one luxury item!

For my albums I’d probably choose Beyonce for something fun that I can dance too and Take That (don’t judge…) for nostalgia purposes.

For the film I’m total sucker for a chick flick so I would I’d probably go with two of my favourite modern classics: Pretty Woman and Mean Girls

For food, I’d forget about ingredients and just have some trays of sushi paired with champagne.

My luxury item would be a photo of my husband and I on our wedding day.

~ Thank you so much Angie! You can find Silverspoon London here, and don’t forget to follow along via Bloglovin‘! ~

p.s. If you’d like to see your own blog featured here on Cider with Rosie, click through to the Sponsor page and book up an advert!

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