Special Interview with Janine from Alternative Housewife

We are back on track and starting off the week with one of my absolute favorite blogger friends. Janine from Alternative Housewife has become someone who I can trust to tell it how it is and to be an amazing encouragement to me. Her blog focuses on style, home, and the pursuit of living both green and budget friendly. Due in a few months with her first baby (it’s a boy!), her blog has also incorporated a lot of eco-friendly baby raising tips as well. Love it! Anywho, check out the interview below:

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Hottie tottie Janine

MV: Tell us a bit about yourself! How old are you, where are you from, favorite band, food, and pass time?

AH: I’m Janine, I just turned 24, born and currently living in Portland, Oregon. I listen to mainly 90′s alternative and could live on salmon sashimi. When I am not blogging or designing websites, I love thrift and bargain shopping!

MV: I’m right there with you on the sashimi girlfriend! So when did you start blogging, and why

AH: When I started blogging, we just called them “personal websites” and my purpose was to vent about my teenage life. I think it was a form of confidence-building more than anything, posting webcam photos and forming a network of online friends. One of my early Internet friendships was with now-beauty blogger Marsadie of Frappelattes.

Most people in high school, including my friends, didn’t ‘get’ my hobby. At that time most people weren’t online at all.

Coveting her snakeskin leggings...

MV: I can understand the not getting it aspect, even today I think people tend to not get the power of blogging. So, tell us what people can expect to find at your blog? What do you tend to focus on

AH: I started Alternative Housewife to post about fashion and chic housekeeping, but am posting increasingly about baby issues as my pregnancy progresses. I hope to eventually appeal to all stylish women, whether they are single, married, with or without children. A central theme is “… on a budget”. I am big on thrifting, recycling, and finding deals.

Rocking the hospital gear at her baby check-up

MV: With the internet as a haven for “fictitious” identities, would you say your online personality differs at all from your “real world” personality? Do you feel you can be yourself more online, vice versa, or are you pretty much the same?

AH: I would say that every post is a little bit more true to who I am in “real life”. A lot of visitors are friends and family who do know me offline and I hope they would tell me if I was coming across as fake! Writing is different than speaking, so of course reading my blog isn’t exactly like having a conversation with me. I certainly swear more offline.

MV: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

AH: Hopefully I am still blogging in five years, and I’m hoping to have two children by then, as insane as that sounds to me now! My ultimate goal would be to be able to pay my rent and bills by blogging, but a solid readership is just as important to me.

MV: Finally, what is one tip you have for bloggers?

AH: The first thing that comes to mind is to buy a real domain (.com), which will keep you motivated and make your site easier to promote. I found purchasing AlternativeHousewife.com to be truly thrilling. Also, write up a mission statement (even if it’s just notes, or an outline) just for yourself, laying out your goals and the topics you plan to blog about. Have your post categories planned out before you key your first entry.

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Special thanks to Janine for the lovely interview! Make sure to stop by the Alternative Housewife and show her some love.

ps – If you would like to participate in the interviews and link exchange, please email me at Maria@BachmansSparrow.com.

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