Updated on February 8th, 2024
The end of May officially marked my 5th blogiversary! It has been quite a journey from my first post to here, and for my 5th blogiversary, I wanted to answer questions about myself. I asked on Twitter, and these are the questions I received.
About My Blog
1. What was your motivation to start writing?
– J from Blogs by J
I originally started my blog on tumblr because my friend from university had a blog there and I thought it would be fun to join her. However, I did not really like tumblr because I felt disconnected from the community, but I continued my blog for a while. After I had my daughter, I had more time on my hands at home so I decided to delete my blog on tumblr and start this one on WordPress.
2. How do you plan your content?
– Sophie from Love and Literature
At the beginning of every month, I like to plan my posts for that month. I post once a week, which means I write 4-5 posts a month. I am in a bloggers collab with 7 other amazing ladies, and we write a collab post most months, which will normally be published the last week. For the rest of the month, I will schedule any brand collabs I have such as sponsored posts like last month I wrote The Benefits of Online Dating.
I then look at what holidays there are and plan a post or two about that holiday like in May I published my Mother’s Day Gift Guide and in February I published a Valentine’s Day Danish Dessert Hindbærsnitter Recipe and 6 Minute vs 60 Minute Makeup Challenge for Valentine’s Day. If there is not a holiday I want to write about, I look at the drafts I have been working on and see if I want to publish one of those posts. If not, I will look at my list of blog post ideas and write one from there.
3. Do you have a set schedule and if you do, what is it?
– Rhiannon from Mrs. Slee-Jones
As I mentioned above, I only publish a post once a week, and I tried sticking to a set day, but life often gets in the way. Most recently I tried sticking to Tuesdays, but then it became difficult to stick to that schedule because I have Danish classes Monday-Wednesday and I felt stressed trying to have a post ready. Lately, I have been sticking to Sundays so I have time during the week to work on the post and promote my latest post, but this schedule is not set in stone and some weeks I may publish earlier in the week.
4. Do you write blog posts in one sitting, or in a couple sittings?
– Alex Jean from Simply Alex Jean
I write posts over a couple of sittings. Since I have my Danish classes then when my daughter comes home from school I am often making dinner and spending time with her so I cannot set a large enough block of time aside to write a post in one sitting. I do plan my posts for the month at the beginning of each month, but I need at least several sittings to write them out. For example with this post, I added the questions I had at the time and answered most of the blogging questions. I then came back later and added the rest of the questions and finished answering the blogging questions and then I answered the questions about me.
5. What is your number one tip for new bloggers?
– Travel Addicted Unicorn
My number one tip is to try your best to not compare yourself to other bloggers. I have been blogging for 5 years now so it would not be right for new bloggers to compare themselves to me because we are all on our own journey. If you compare yourself to other bloggers, you can feel less motivated to blog and end up quitting entirely.
6. What advice would you give to new bloggers?
– Sophie from Love and Literature
Besides the advice I mentioned above, I wrote this post a while back with other bloggers where we shared the worst advice we have received, and from that post, I would say to take any advice you are given or you read with a grain of salt. It is your blog and you should be able to write about whatever topic you want without having to stick to a niche, you should post whenever you want, and you should not force yourself to post if life gets in the way because only you know what works best for you and your blog.
7. What motivates you to blog?
– Isa from Lifestyle Prism and Luce from Perselem
This is a difficult question because I have not really thought about it before. When I first started blogging, my motivation was just that I love to write and I wanted to share my thoughts. I still love writing, but now I write in hopes that others will read my posts and I am able to have a discussion. I am also motivated to blog when I have received gifted products or been offered to write a sponsored post.
8. How do you keep motivated with having a family, studying and having a blog?
– Simona, Fred, and Cristina from The Grumpy Olive
I find that I stay motivated by not putting pressure on myself. If life gets too busy, it is okay I take a step back from my blog. I have also not been using Pinterest and Instagram for my blog lately because I do not enjoy them so there is no pressure for me to constantly create new pins or upload photos to my grid. Blogging for me is fun and it should not be a burden, so when it does start feeling like a burden, I take a step back so I do not get burned out.
9. Why would you quit/or not quit?
– Isa from Lifestyle Prism
I would not quit blogging because I enjoy it. I love being able to share my thoughts about anything, and the blogging community is amazing. Furthermore, I love being able to connect with other bloggers and I made some great friends through blogging.
10. Have you found blogging in another country more challenging, in terms of opportunities and readers?
– Simona, Fred, and Cristina from The Grumpy Olive
Finding opportunities is definitely more difficult here. Most opportunities that involve a gifted product are UK and US only. Even though most of my readers are in the US followed by the UK, it does not matter to the brands because I live in Denmark. I also can not find opportunities in Denmark because I do not blog in Danish. Sponsored posts are easier to find, but again some brands may want only UK bloggers. In regards to readers, it is not difficult having an active audience since I do write in English and I am active in the blogging community. I feel like if I were to blog in Danish (I do not know enough Danish to write a blog post though), my reach would be much less because there are so few people who speak Danish compared to English.
11. What differences do you see in blogging between now and 5 years ago?
– Alison and Krista from A Sustainably Simple Life
5 years ago I posted 3 times a week because I was trying to get my blog off the ground and I had more free time, but now I only post once a week because it fits best with my schedule and I have more time to work on my post and to promote it during the week. 5 years ago I had no idea that it was possible to make money through blogging. I was so happy when I got my first sponsored post, and I am thankful for all the sponsored posts I have done since. I still blog for fun, but it is nice having that bit of extra money every now and then.
Also, I have learned so much about blogging over the years. I knew nothing about SEO when I first started blogging, and when I published a post, I would move on to the next one without promoting it at all. Now I have a better grasp of blogging, but even today I am still learning new things.
12. What is your favorite blog post out of all the ones you’ve written?
– Haley from Introverted Creativity
This is a hard question because I have written 446 posts over the years, but I think my favorite is Ranking Every Nancy Drew PC Game. It took me months to work on this post because I played through all 33 games then ranked them. I had a lot of fun playing through the series again, and I loved being able to combine gaming and blogging.
About My Life
1. What would a perfect day look like for you?
– Alex Jean from Simply Alex Jean
My perfect day would be having brunch at Cafe Korn (they have the best brunch ever) then doing something fun like going to the zoo or wildlife park, going to the beach, touring a castle or museum, seeing a movie, or just shopping with my family. I would then love to have dinner at Izakaya, which is my all-time favorite sushi restaurant. Then I would like to come home and spend the evening playing video games or watching something on Netflix.
2. What’s a food you absolutely couldn’t give up?
– Haley from Introverted Creativity
Sushi! Sushi is one of my favorite foods, and I love making it and going out to a sushi restaurant as well so I do not think I can give it up.
3. What’s your most embarrassing moment?
– Sophie from Love and Literature
The first embarrassing moment I thought of was when I was a kid my parents and I were staying at a family friend’s house and I ran into the glass door because I thought it was open and everyone saw…then I proceeded to run into it again later that day…haha
4. What’s one item on your bucket list?
– Alex Jean from Simply Alex Jean
To travel! I have been lucky enough to travel to Canada, Mexico, Australia, Sweden, and Germany, but I would love to see more of Europe when things are safer. Also, the top of my list of places I want to visit is Japan.
5. What do you want to do with your psychology/child studies major?
– Joy from Joy Unraveled
After I finish my master’s program, I would like to either continue onto a psychology Ph.D. or I would like to get a job. My ideal job would be research-based involving child psychology. If I go for a Ph.D., I would love to work at a university afterward.
6. When did you move out of the USA?
– Lynn from Lynn Mumbing Mejia
I moved in August 2016, but there was a period of back and forth and I first came here in February 2016 for 3 months before I went back to the US for 3 months.
7. Do you ever plan on moving back?
– Lynn from Lynn Mumbing Mejia
As of now, I have no plans on moving back. I officially received my residence permit in February of this year, and I feel so relieved to no longer be in limbo. I have plans for the future here including getting a bigger apartment and potentially attending the University of Copenhagen, and I also plan for my daughter to attend school here.
8. How is it like raising your daughter in Denmark compared to USA?
– Lynn from Lynn Mumbing Mejia
It is great! In the USA, you have to pay for a doctor’s visit, but here it is free and any medications are relatively inexpensive. When my daughter was a baby, a home nurse regularly came to visit us (for free) and checked how she was doing and answered any questions we had, and that is not the norm in the US. Dentist visits are also free until a child is 18, and in fact, the dentist is located in my daughter’s school! I do not have to worry about having a ton of money saved for unexpected health expenses like I would in the US.
Daycare is expensive in both countries, and I have only experienced the daycare here so I cannot compare the quality, but it was great here. Children also walk to school by themselves, and they even take public transportation without adults (my daughter is only 5-years-old so still a bit too young), but I feel like in the US if parents let their children walk down the street by themselves, neighbors would call the police and child protective services. So children are more independent here compared to the US.
If my daughter decides to attend university in the EU, it will be free for her and the government will cover her housing and book expenses, but in the US many students have to take loans to cover tuition and expenses. The cost of living is higher here than in the US because there is a 25% tax on pretty much everything, but I feel like children and their parents are more supported here than in the US.
9. What’s one thing that culture shocked you?
– Lynn from Lynn Mumbing Mejia
I mentioned a few things that were a culture shock in my About Living in Denmark post, but another thing that shocked me was how open Danes are to nudity. In the US you have the slogan “sex sells” in advertising, but you will never have a fully nude woman in an advertisement, but here I have seen boobs on the sides of buses. There is also a magazine that you can buy at any grocery store or kiosk that has a “page 9 girl” and she will be completely naked in the photos. In the US, magazines that have nudity will be out of reach of children on the top shelf and there will be a plastic covering so no one can look at the magazines without buying it first.
Furthermore, there was a TV show called Blachman where women completely undressed and the host and male guest would discuss their bodies. There is also a TV show called Mit plastikmareridt (My Plastic Nightmare) where people who are not happy with the results of their plastic surgery meet with a surgeon who will then decide if they are able to help. If the women on the show are there to have their breasts looked at, they will show their breasts without censorship during the episode. If these shows were aired in the US, all the nudity would be completely censored.
Also, another thing is when you go to a waterpark, pool, or anywhere else that requires you to change clothes, there is a shared changing room for all the women (the men will have a separate changing room) and you will change your clothes in front of other women and you will have women walking around and showering without any clothes on. In the US, you will always go into an individual changing room and you will not see another woman naked. So that was a culture shock because the US shows off women’s bodies, but they are clothed whereas here there is no censorship.
Thank you to everyone who asked me questions! If you are wanting to write your own Q&A post, Not Got A Clue has a wonderful post on How to Write a Question and Answer Style of Blog Post.
I loved learning a little more about you and your life through this post and it’s great to see how many questions you received. A Q&A is definitely something I’d love to do further down the line 🙂
It was fun to do & a Q&A is a great way to let others know more about you!
Happy Blogiversary!
Thank you!
Happy blog anniversary, great answers to all the questions 🙂
Thank you!!
More bloggers should do this because you get to know who they are as a person. This is an original idea that I think is absolutely fantastic! 5 years – wow! Congrats!
Thank you so much & I agree! It’s nice getting to know the person behind the blog & I had fun answering everyone’s questions!
Lovely answers, I really like them and know more about you ❤️
Thanks for sharing
Thank you so much!
Happy 5th blogging anniversary! Thank you for including me and answering my questions! Denmark sounds wonderful and makes me want to live aboard x
Lynn | https://www.lynnmumbingmejia.com
Thank you & you’re welcome! It’s exciting living abroad & experiencing a different culture!
Happy 5th Anniversary. I wish you so many more.
http://www.exclusivebeautydiary.com
Thank you so much!
Congratulations on five years! I had a similar experience with that culture shock. I’m used to censorship on tv where I’m from (Jamaica). I visited some family in the UK and was watching some tv and a show about plastic surgery as well was on. I watched it back at home but I was shocked to see that they don’t censor their body parts on tv. That was a major difference haha. Great post! xx
Thank you! It’s interesting how some countries are all for censorshiip while others are completely open to showing nudity on tv.
Wow Belle! Thanks a lot for answering questions and tipping my page link top. Much appreciated. Great answers. One thing in common. I love sushi the most too. Can have it anytime and never give up on this. Japanese being my favorite cuisine. Also the culture shock detail was quite shocking really. Especially if you don’t want your little kids to see it random anywhere and everywhere. Great insight to you. Thanks for sharing xx
Isa A. Blogger
https://bit.ly/39f9FN0
You’re welcome! Sushi is amazing & yes it is shocking!
Congratulations on your 5th Blogiversary! It was so interesting to read this post. I never knew that Danes were so open to nudity! I live in the UK and I feel like we are more similar to the US here in that nudity would be censored on TV, and those magazines would be out of reach. However, we do have communal changing rooms here at some swimming pools, but there are usually private cubicles as well so people have a choice. x
Thank you so much!
That’s interesting the UK is more similiar to the US. Here there aren’t private changing rooms unless you want to change in the toilet!
Congratulations Karalee – 5 years is a big milestone! It was so lovely to read this post and get to know you a bit more, which are my favourite posts! Thank you for sharing, and best wishes for blogging years to come!
Thank you so much!
Happy Blogiversary! Congratulations! It was wonderful to get to know a little more about you! I so agree this is your blog and you can write outside of your niche and as often as you can. Also, don’t get caught up with comparing yourself with other bloggers. Stay true to who you are… stay the course… keep moving forward.
Pastor Natalie
Letstakeamoment.com
Thank you so much! Yes blogging is so much more enjoyable when I write about what I want & not stick to any set blogging “rules”
That’s great advice!
Congratulations on 5th blog Anniversary. I really enjoy reading your answers and I wish you many more years.
http://www.exclusivebeautydiary.com
Thank you!!!
Happy 5th Blogging anniversary, such an achievement 🙂 It’s been so lovely to read more about you and get some insight into who you are. Here’s to many more happy years of blogging to come for you.
Thank you so much!!! ❤
Happy Blogiversary! I totally connect with what you were saying about the challenges of trying to get sponsored posting when you aren’t in the US or UK. I am in Canada, I can literally take a city bus into the US, and my audience is 50/50 Canadian and American. However, my address is still Canada and that has stopped far too many brands from wanting to work with me. It’s frustrating, I’m not going to lie, but I refuse to let it get me down!
Thank you!
Ugh that is frustrating especially since you you live so close to the US. It’s a shame that brands don’t want to work with us even though half of our audience is in the US.
That’s great you don’t let it get you down though!
Congratulations on your anniversary! I am a new reader so it was interesting to get to know you, and enjoyed reading your answers.
Thank you so much! I’m glad to hear that!
Happy Blog Anniversary! I enjoyed reading all the answers 😀 I wish you all the success for many many years ahead x
Thank you so much!
I’ve found all the answers very interesting, thanks for sharing!
Kisses,
https://www.theartofpaloma.com/
Thanks & no problem!
Happy blog birthday! These are some awesome questions. I wish you lots of luck for the next 5!
Thank you so much! I wonder how the next 5 years are going to be!
Happy Blogiversary! It was great to get to know more about your writing, etc.
Thank you!
First of all, happy blog birthday, 5 years wow what an achievement! I love this style of post and getting to know the blogger behind the blog even more. It’s lovely to read about your inspirations and motiviations
Rosie
Thank you so much!
I agree! I haven’t done an about me post in forever so I thought it was about time!
That’s nuts about nudity over though! It must be so much fun to experience a different culture though!
Corinne x
Yes I definitely didn’t expect to see naked women on tv/in magazines or to change in front of each other!
It is fun & it’s interesting seeing the differences between here & the US.
This post came out soo well!! Thank you for including my question!! I also loveee sushi, it is my fav food!!
Thank you & no problem!
Yes sushi is amazing!!!
Congratulations on five years! That’s such a huge accomplishment.
Thank you so much!
I love this, I found the blogging questions so helpful too!! 😁😁 Happy Blog Birthday xxx
Thank you!!!
Congratulations and happy anniversary. This is a cool post and a good way to celebrate your anniversary. May you become more successful.
Thank you so much! 🥰
Happy blog birthday! 5 years is amazing. I totally agree with your tip about comparison, even now nearly 4 years in I find it hard ot to compare sometimes. Really interesting reading about how you find blogging in Denmark x
Thank you! I still occasionally compare myself to other bloggers, but I just have to remind myself that we’re all on our own journey.
Happy Blogiversary, Karalee, 5 years is an amazing achievement! I love your tip about not comparing yourself to other bloggers, it’s so true, we all blog for different reasons and we’re all at different stages. And ouch, I feel you on the glass door, I’ve done that a few times too, haha x
Thank you so much! I completely agree! Haha it was bad running into the glass door the first time, but then the second time…
Happy Blogiversary! 🙂 So great to get to know you more through all of these questions! It’s very cool to learn more about Denmark too. I really don’t know much about the country. How amazing that medical, dental, and school costs are covered there! In Canada we have a lot of free medical benefits, but not the other things.
Thank you! I’m glad you were able to learn more about Denmark & I agree!
I always thought Canada was better than the US in terms of medical benefits because you don’t have to pay for medical expenses
Congratulations and Happy Blog Birthday! so lovely to reading this post
Thank you so much! 😊
Loved reading more about you! Thanks for sharing all the answers to these questions!
You’re welcome!
Wow! We started our blogs around the same time (spring 2016) and you are light years ahead of me. I think it’s incredible how you monetized your blog while caring for your family and balancing everything else! You’re proof that anything is possible as long as we are willing to put in the work and chase after our dreams! 🙌
That’s interesting you started your blog around the same time! Thank you so much! At times it has been challenging, but I’m proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish.
I believe you’ll be able to accomplish anything you want to because even though you think I’m light years ahead, we’re all on our own journey!
Congratulations. More to come
Thank you!
#10. I really appreciated the gift you sent this English lady living in the states ❤️😊
Aw you’re welcome! 🥰
Happy Blog Birthday! Congratulations on your success. I enjoyed reading all the answers to your questions. I agree that you don’t really have to stick to one niche. I remember when I first started blogging last year and everything was what is your niche and now I feel more confident to just write about me and the things I enjoy. Also wow I had no idea Denmark was like that. It’s amazing how healthcare is free. That’s amazing.
Thank you!!!
Yes! I started with a single niche, but it got boring rather quick & then I was like I shoud be able to write about whatever I want since it is my blog! I’m glad to hear you’re more confident to write about you & the things you like.
The taxes are high here, but that’s because it goes to healthcare & education. In the US, if you lost your job, you often lost your health insurance as well, but here you don’t have to worry about that.
From a fellow sushi lover to the other, hey! Thank you for including us in your post, and I loved reading all the other answers too! Loved the post as usual, Karalee xx
Haha yes! Sushi is delicious!
You’re welcome & thank you too! 🥰