Confessions of a blogger tag

I recently saw this tag on ChloesWay.com and thought it might be a fun thing to do for my own blog, so here goes...

♥ When did you start your blog?
Amazingly I started this blog in 2009 - it was initially just a place for me to publish my music reviews and examples of my printed work. I'm not quite sure how it got to be a lifestyle/beauty/fashion blog but I'm really pleased with where it has got to and I have some big plans brewing about where I want to take it in the future.

♥ Have you had any past online presence before (Other blog, YouTube)?
Oh definitely, I have been online since I was about 12-years-old. I first started writing on forums and I kept a sort of online diary at Livejournal.com. I also branched out into having various blogs and websites for a few years and ran a My Chemical Romance fan site. I also created a music review website, which I ran up until recently.

♥ Why did you start a blog?
As I mentioned above I started my blog to showcase my writing work and to use it as some sort of online CV. It's not really the right platform for such a thing so it quickly developed into a review blog and then fashion/lifestyle/beauty.

♥ When did you become serious about starting a blog?
I'm not sure there was a particular point when I became serious about blogging, sometimes I take it very seriously but other weeks I just don't feel like blogging at all and feel I need a bit of a break from it. I do try and take it seriously and my planning for the future of the blog is a big part of that. It is still very much a hobby that I do in my spare time and I do really enjoy it!

♥ What was your first post?
It was a copy of a review I had published in a local magazine in Southampton.

♥ What has been your biggest challenge about blogging?
I think probably the photography aspect of it - I know you don't need to be a professional photographer to have a blog but good photos are important. Mine did start out really badly but they have definitely improved. I would like to get a better camera for myself and start recording Youtube videos!

♥ Where do you see your blog in one year?
I have no idea really, I would like it to have grown somewhat and I would love there to be a bit more interaction with commenters/readers. I would like a more professional looking layout and I would love for it to have more outfit photos!

♥ What is the most rewarding thing to you about blogging?
Probably seeing my follower numbers and comments grow and grow. I love to know that what I'm writing is actually being read by people and I love to see what they think!

♥ What is the most discouraging thing that happens to you?
There isn't anything in particular that discourages me from blogging, I really enjoy it!

♥ What's your lasting inspiration or motivation?
Reading other blogs is my biggest inspiration and motivation. I love reading other people's blogs and seeing their amazing photographs and interesting posts and I often wish my blog was just as good!