Blog-erview with Brittany Of Delightfully Awkward

Its Wednesday and time again for another Blog-erview!!!

 

Lets welcome Brittany from Delightfully Awkward to Agape Love Designs!!

If you are new here, find out about the Blog-erview Series, 

as well as a list of previous blog-erviews {here}!

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Tell us a little about yourself and Your blog (and shop if you have one)

Hi!  My name is Brittany and I blog over at Delightfully Awkward.  In short- I am a Christian, I'm married to an Army veteran, I have two awesome dogs that I'm a bit obsessed with, I just recently returned to my awesome home state of North Carolina after living in Colorado for 3 years, and I recently graduated college so I am at that crazy "quarter life crisis" stage where I avoid the "real" world by attempting grad school.

Is there a special meaning behind your blog/shop name?

You can read the full story here, but basically it is a description of my personality.  I am a stereotypical geeky girl, meaning I am clumsy and pale and like to read a lot and have no shame when I really love something.  My awesome husband somehow finds this to be a positive thing, so once when I was doing something that was just typical Brittany he smiled and said "You are so delightfully awkward."
 (Aww cutest this ever! - Maria-Isabel)

How did you first get involved with blogging?

I needed a place where I could just get my thoughts out.  I have always found writing to be cathartic and thought it would be the best way for me to clear my head.  Also, I was embarking on a completely new chapter in my life.  My husband had just returned from Iraq, and very soon after we moved to Ft Carson, Colorado.  Blogging allowed me to capture these new experiences in a unique and personal way.

Has blogging played a role in the start of or development of your shop?
If so, how? If not, tell us how your shop came about.

I don't have a shop.
Maybe one day I'll get extra crafty and develop something worthy of selling, but it hasn't happened yet.

How do you come up with material/content for your blog each day, What inspires you?

I actually don't blog every day, or even every week.  I have commitment issues, but I am working on it.  I mainly blog about my day to day life, although I sometimes participate in link-ups/blog-hops/challenges.

What has been the most challenging moment in being a blogger?

Figuring out my "niche."  I would love to connect with more people in the blogging world, but I think that is difficult to do without a specific focus.  I am not a crafty blogger, a fashion blogger, a food blogger (although I do have a food blog), a review blogger (although I do link my Goodreads account to my blog)...I am just me.  And I have lots of different interests, so it's been difficult to find a niche.

Name some of the bloggers whom you look up to and why?

One of them is Agape Love Designs and Maria-Isabel, obviously! I can't even remember how I found her blog, but I have been following for quite a while now.  She somehow manages to have something that can appeal to everyone (crafts, photography, kid-friendly posts) and yet it never feels as spastic as I think my blog does, haha.  She is also an absolute sweetheart- each time I've contacted her she has been incredibly pleasant to converse with.  
(Again, Aw, I am so touched! Thanks Brittany!! -Maria-Isabel)

Some of my other favorite blogs are Annie's Eats (she has amazing recipes) and The Rusted Chain (love her country living section & also wonderful etsy shop).  See, I really do just have lots of random, I mean different, interests ;)

If someone was interested in blogging, what would be a few things you would suggest?

Figure out a niche! :-p I think if I had put more thought into the purpose of my blog at the beginning it would have been easier to grow my blog & get involved in specific blogging communities.  Also, do your part to connect with others-

• be on the lookout for blogs you love (and follow when you find them)
• don't be afraid to leave comments (you never know when someone needs your kind words or different viewpoints)
• participate in blog hops
• sponsor other blogs

What Social Networks are you on?

I am on Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, and my project Veteran's Surplus has a Facebook.  I'm also a member of the blogging community 20sb (for bloggers who are in their 20s) and you can check out my page here.

What networking do you do, that you feel helps your blog and/or shop the most?

Hmm, this is difficult.  I think the most helpful is actually commenting on other blogs, because people can easily track back to your blog that way.  Twitter is also great, because everyone in the blogging community seems to have it.  20sb has also been really cool just because the sheer volume of participants and different ways to share your blog info.

What goals do you have, if any, for your blog/shop right now and in the future?

My goals include becoming more appealing by focusing on more general issues, tutorials, and DIY projects.

But my biggest goal, by far, is to grow Veteran's Surplus.  It's a permanent link-up I am trying to create for Veterans and their families.  This is a small community (0.45% of America's population has served since 9/11) which faces incredibly difficult and unique struggles.  My hope is that veterans and family members will be able to connect with one another and find some comfort in having friends who are experiencing the same situations.

What has been the best thing about blogging so far, feel free to share any exciting triumphs or milestones you have had or reached! :)

As previously stated, I have issues with commitment.  So the fact that I have over 400 blog posts, spanning 3 critical years of my life, is awesome.  The sheer fact that I have stayed with something so long is impressive (for me!), and it's great to look back and see how far I've come and what all I've experienced.

Is there anything you know now that you wish you knew before you started blogging?

The blogging community is huge!  And very welcoming, if you are willing to jump in and be a part of it.  For example- when I first started blogging, I was a military spouse.  There are so many MilSpouse bloggers and link-ups that I could have been a part of, but I never got out there and looked!  I missed the chance to connect with some awesome people because I thought I just swimming along in the blogging world alone.

Is there anything else you would like to share with my readers?

I think that covers anything I think people may care about :)  Please feel free to stop by my blog, I LOVE comments and getting to know others.  And please, please feel free to share Veteran's Surplus!

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Thank you so much Brittany for your interview and your kind words!
I do hope that my readers will check out Delightfully Awkward and Veterans Surplus!! :)

Much Love & Hugs,

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