As I’m on adult “Spring Break,” the blogger Interview is designed to engage with bloggers whom I like and respect, and who have something to say. It will run each weekday from March 21-28. I posed to each of the interviewees the same 13 questions and requested that they answer at least 10 of them; I told them that their answers could be as short or long as they wished.
Amanda from Anchored to Sunshine is one of the gals that I’ve been following from my wee days as a baby blogger just re-starting with SST. Two years ago, Amanda packed up her life in Florida and casually moved to Washington D.C. While she says “Anchored to Sunshine”is meant to keep track of all things D.C., my guess is that you’ll agree that her humble, yet hilarious way of describing pieces of life will make her instantly relatable and you’ll feel like her good friend in 10 seconds flat!
Read below to learn more about Amanda’s penchant for to-do lists, success in taking big risks, and amazingly supportive boyfriend. I guarantee you’ll walk away wanting to get mimosas with her ASAP.
Which movie best describes your life and why?
Clue! Yes, the movie filmed in 1985 which was before I was even born. The movie is basically like the board game Clue, but in movie form. How is it like me? It’s like the game (I’m seriously obsessed with games), it’s high energy (I drink loads of coffee… probably too much coffee), and it’s not really scary (I’m a scaredy cat so It’s the perfect PG level for me).
What’s the most important thing you’ve learned in your blogging career?
I’ve learned (and am still learning) how much you should let your personality shine through your posts. When I first started blogging I tried to be light, fluffy, and a crowd pleaser. Welp… that just isn’t me. Plus I found out that readers want to see personality, not just generic comments and smiles. We all need to get angry and show some emotions sometimes 🙂
What’s the biggest – and, in retrospect, most important – mistake you’ve made and how did you grow from it?
For a year I just passively floated through life, a job, and a relationship that I knew were going nowhere. Until I finally I woke up one morning and decided I wasn’t going to do it anymore! I decided to take the plunge and changed all of those three things. Now that I look back on that time in my life, I realized how detrimental that year was to my happiness. I’m back on track now and happier than ever!
What’s the most significant thing you do each week, and why is it so significant?
I make to do lists. I live and breath by them! They make me feel organized, purposeful, and accomplished. 🙂 Nothing is better than crossing something off my to do list, and it has to be on paper (no silly phone to do list apps) so I get the satisfaction of actually crossing through it with a pen.
Who has been the most influential person in your blogging life, and why?
I would have to say my boyfriend. I had been wanting to start blogging for years before I met him, but always came up with excuses as to why I should wait longer. When I met him he made me see that I could put it off for years if I let myself. He was the one who pushed me to finally do it! Now he is my photographer, #1 follower, and advice giver! His favorite phrase is “Blogworthy!!” when he sees something that I should post to Anchored to Sunshine. I couldn’t (and probably wouldn’t) have done it without him.
If you had to define the most important aspect of blogging successfully, what would it be and why?
Engaging with the community! It’s the most important aspect and the hardest aspect in my opinion. It’s so easy to spend all your time taking pictures and posting on your blog, but you actually have to meaningfully engage with others to become successful! You can also learn a lot from other bloggers, so it’s a win win in my opinion!
Do you prefer posting on your blog, Instagram, Twitter, SnapChat, or any other account, and why?
I’ll start with what I don’t prefer first! I’m horrible at SnapChat, I’m barely witty enough for Twitters 140 characters, I’m so picky about what I post on my Instagram because I try to keep it more personal, so I guess that leaves posting on my blog as my preferred account! Instagram second… but I really need to work on my photography skills, haha.
What’s one thing that you haven’t done yet that you would most like to do?
Do in regards to blogging? I would love to meet other DC-based bloggers and get a feel for their blogging experience, advice, and plans! You can learn so much through other bloggers and conversations that I’ve had with others have really helped me excel my blog so much more than I ever thought possible.
Do in regards to life? I would like to jump on a yacht and sail around the British Virgin Islands for a few weeks 🙂
How do you typically plan your posts each week, and how far in advance?
I wish I could elaborate about my insanely organized scheduling/ posting plan… but sadly Anchored to Sunshine is severely lacking in that department. Every other aspect of my life is planned out to a tee, but when it comes to an editorial calendar I fall short (way short). I have an ongoing Google Doc with loads of blog ideas and around 5am every morning I pick one and post about it at 7am 🙂 Thank goodness I’m a morning person.
Keenest insight (so far) from your life and/or blogging career?
Always ask questions! When I first started blogging/ when I first started in my career I wanted to pretend like I knew everything and didn’t want to ask a stupid question. That is not what you want to do! Asking questions is how you excel and learn and grow! Ask away is my advice. 🙂
Tomorrow: Guest Post by the Australian health/fitness guru Amy Goldsmith
