3 Years of Seizing The Day, Happy Birthday Carpe Diem Emmie.

Photo Credit: Charlie Jones

I had to laugh at myself recently when I realised my blog was a year older than I thought it was, good start to 2017. It's weird to realise that 3 years of my life has been spent on this blog of mine and essentially it has become another part of me.

3 years learning new skills, working with great brands/companies, forming great friendships are many positives that come with this blog, I feel like I have friends for life and it's a chapter in my life that I'll forever be blessed for. And after all I can rely on the close friends I now have on my wedding day to pull out some great snaps for Instagram and even use a hashtag that no doubt I will make for the big day, it'll save me a job of finding a photographer anyway.

3 years of blogging has also brought with it the challenges, the not so rose gold tinted parts that you can't just sweep under the carpet without acknowledging them. It's been difficult to make the blog work successfully when I'm working full time, had someone copy my content or just compared my blog to somebody else's but all in all these aren't a fraction onto the best parts.Luckily though what I have had over the past 3 years is undoubtedly support like no other, nobody has ever slated to me that this blog exists. It's part of my package now.

In the 3 years I've done what my blog says on the tin, as clique as it sounds it has really enabled me to seize every day, every opportunity and in return I've done so much.

I feel like I have a place with my blog now, a niche, a direction that I am content with. I love being able to flourish in opening up the category of culture on my blog, a direction that I was destined for but had little belief in being able to achieve. I now get to review shows on a regular basis, working with incredible theatre venues across my region and beyond. I'm so grateful for those opportunities and excited where it'll lead me in the future too.

I'm not so great at pulling together words to celebrate a 'blog birthday' so I've pulled together some questions I was asked on my hashtag #3YearsSeizingTheDay which resulted in the guys at Cadbury's sending some of their celebration cakes to mark the occasion to #SpreadTheJoy and would definitely encourage you to check them out. Let's get into a little Q&A.

Q. You've had people copying your content in the past, how did you deal with that? Any tips?

A. If i'm honest there's no right way to deal with it, it's also personal preference. Whilst others are happy to confront the individual and let them know it's not ok, others may not find it so easy to do that. I am quite an open minded, confrontational person so you can imagine I never let it go. I've learnt to accept people are inspired by my content but taking it is different, they'll learn soon.

Q. How has blogging changed since you started? And what are you most looking forward to next?

I'm quite 'new' in terms of timeline but it has changed massively, so many people are in the community now doing their thing here and there, it's incredible. I'd love to continue doing what I do myself and hopefully landing a Marketing and Press job in an arts environment in the future, it's the ultimate goal. 

Q. You're cast to play a roll in a theatre production. What roll are you playing? Are you the main? Do you work backstage?

A. I'd love to be cast as a swing, give me all of the dancing in the world (I don't have a great singing voice to be honest). I also love being backstage especially as a Stage Manager.

Q. What has been your all time favourite post over the last 2 years?

The most favourite post of mine also brings with it deep sadness. In 2015 a friend wrote a post entitled 'Life on the Transplant List' as part of my week long feature to talk about the importance of organ donation. Andrew Ward wrote the most honest, raw and inspiring post with an insight into being on the transplant list. 

The post still has the highest number of views for my blog. Sadly Andrew passed away late last year after a tough battle waiting for a lung transplant. I still miss him deeply but he's determination to get more names on the register definitely echoes in that post, if you've haven't read it before you should definitely do so. 

Q. What are your top 3 favourite Instagram accounts?

I'm loving Instagram so there's plenty of accounts which I love and check out on a regular basis that I want to shout about. This week I have been loving the accounts of Mariajblogs, MielandMint and SarahsChapter but obviously there's so much more I do love! I will do a post on my favourites soon.

Q. What are your biggest 3 blogger pet peeves?

I have so many pet peeves, the list has definitely grown over the years but the biggest 3 are probably;

1. Bloggers 'expecting' to be invited to every local event going, just no.

2. Bloggers who believe they'll wake up to loads of followers and brands jumping at the chance to work with them, it takes hard graft and consistency. 

3. People who do regular Twitter giveaways for their follower count to increase, wow.

Q. How was the journey so far? What was the most difficult thing?

I've definitely loved the journey, it's enriched my life in so many ways and I don't actually know what I'd do without it now. The 2 most difficult things besides the copying that come from the top of my head are 1. Blogger Drama, most of it is ridiculous and doesn't need to be there and 2. Trying to balance my blog with press nights/events, a FT job and as well as being a girlfriend, friend and family member to my loved ones. 

Q. Do you ever get writing block, what do you do to overcome it?

Who doesn't get writing block, if you don't then tell me your secrets! When I have writing block the first thing I definitely don't do is force out some content in the hope it'll bring along with it some kind of 'miracle'. I take some time out, read a book, watch TV and do other things then when I'm ready I'll begin writing again.. Also reading other blogs is really helpful. 

Q. What inspired you to start blogging?

My degree. I did a dance degree and we were asked to produce a blog for our studies. Whilst others found it tough going and not the easiest of things to publish, it really inspired me to write more stuff I was interested in, years later Carpe Diem Emmie is still here and still smashing it. If you go right to beginning of my archive too, all of the first stuff is there (and cringey as ever!) 

I wonder how long you've been blogging yourself? Tell me in the comments below and share with me one thing that's been positive that's come from your own blogging journey.

Thanks for continuing to read and support my little space, I can't wait to continue seizing the day with you over the rest of 2017 and well beyond!