Mommybloggers dish with Amanda
Mommybloggers: We're so glad to finally have the chance to interview you, Amanda! Tell us how long you've been blogging, and how you got started.
Amanda: I started blogging in 2002 at an anonymous online diary site. I mostly used it as a forum to complain about my husband and how unhappy I was. He found it, of course, and now that I think about it, that may have been my intention all along. It took me a few years (not to mention losing 100+ pounds), but I finally realized it was never him that was making me unhappy, nor had it ever been his responsibility to make me happy in the first place. I had to be happy with myself and blogging is one of the things I do to keep myself happy. Maybe I should say happy a few more times? HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY!
Mommybloggers: You've written about some deeply personal, emotionally charged issues over the years. How has writing about these topics affected you?
Amanda:I’m pretty even-keeled (read: happy!) so I mostly write about what ever is hovering under the surface of my life. Blogging is a good way for me to talk about things I wouldn’t normally bring up over the course of dinner or at a playgroup. Reading something on my blog means my friends and family have license to bring it up, which has led to some good conversations and deeper friendships. The other half of the time my blog is just a living baby book, which is exactly what I want it to be: A living record of the best years of my life.
Mommybloggers: When we met you at BlogHer 2005, we were moved by your passionate defense of mommyblogging. How do you feel about the term "mommyblogging" now? Are you a mommyblogger?
Amanda:I am definitely a mommyblogger and the term has never offended me. I can understand, though, how if you were a writer before having kids or before starting a blog, you could easily get your panties in a twist about being called that. It would be insulting. I’ve never considered myself a “writer�. I’m a Blogger. I think there’s a difference.
Mommybloggers: Your main blog is called Mandajuice - tell us about the name.
Amanda:It’s the name my little sister came up with for all the bottles of breast milk I used to keep in our mother’s fridge. I worked a full-ish-time job until Alex was 18 months old and being the boob-nazi I am, he never had a single drop of formula. I wouldn’t wish that amount of pumping on my worst enemy, but it’s something that still gives me a lot of pride.
Mommybloggers: You're always insightful and capture your readers' imaginations with your wonderful photography and storytelling. Have you written in other forms?
Amanda:Aw, that’s sweet, but unless you count a few hundred financial plans and a handful of sexy college essays on the economic development of south America, then NOPE. I love to read fiction, but writing it doesn’t really appeal to me.
Mommybloggers: You also blog at ClubMom, writing one of our favorite blogs: The Naked Ledger. This look into your own struggles with budgeting, plus your awesome financial advice is honest and thought-provoking. How did you come up with the idea, and what kind of reaction do you receive?
Amanda:Even though I’ve seen the real life budgets of tons of families over the course of my work as a financial planner, seeing what other people chose to spend their money on never gets old. I thought others might have a similar curiosity. I had initially hoped to be able to instantly blog photos of my receipts every time I spent money, but I can’t get the Flickr code to work properly, so I haven’t been able to keep that up in the way I had hoped. Also? I really SUCK at making time for budgeting, which is kind of the point of that blog. I do get a lot of criticism for our spending, which I still find a little shocking. Who knew a grocery budget could be so controversial!
Mommybloggers: How has being a paid blogger affected your feelings about writing online?
Amanda:KA-FRICKIN-CHING Baby. No complaints from me!
Mommybloggers: You are the mother of two of the most gorgeous children we have ever laid eyes on. You also blog using their names, and their photos. Do you ever worry about their identities online? What are your plans for your blogs as your children get older?
Amanda:Why thank you! I actually don’t worry about their identities online any more than I worry about them at the playground. I’m sure as they get older, I’ll go out of my way to embarrass them a little less often.
Mommybloggers: We see many bloggers branching out into new areas online. Podcasting, vlogs, you name it. Will you be expanding your media empire?
Amanda:I just this week figured out how to get YouTube videos to play on my blog, so I highly doubt you’ll see anything technologically newfangled coming from Mandajuice any time soon. I do have another blog in the works that I’m really excited about, but I’m not allowed to talk about it yet.
Mommybloggers: Tell us something amazing about yourself.
Amanda:I’ve maintained a 100+ pound weight-loss for more than four years. Unfortunately, I have the stretch marks to prove it.
Here are the questions that we ask all the guests:
1. What is your favorite parent related word? Underpants.2. What is your least favorite parent related word? Vomit.
3. What is your favorite creative censored curse word used around children? Did I ever tell you about the time my two-year-old called his father a “fucking bitch� while we were in line at IKEA? Because we keep promising each other we’re going to stop swearing and obviously it’s not happening.
4. What is your favorite hiding place within your home when you need to get away from it all? We live in a two-bedroom apartment. I have nowhere to hide.
5. What hiding place have you been found in too often and can no longer use? The bathroom. I haven’t taken a crap in peace in over three years.
6. If Oprah exists, what would you like to hear her say when you arrive at the Oprah Winfrey show when she features the Mommybloggers? I’d like to present you each with a check for ONE MILLION DOLLARS.
Comments
One of the things I love most about Amanda is that she's so funny and so genuine, and I think this interview really does justice to that. I can't wait to hear about the new blog!
Posted by: Erin | February 15, 2007 11:18 AM
Geeze, I don't read blogs for a few days, and look what I miss! Amanda is one of my very favorite bloggers. She is so real, and lets her readers see the good the bad and the ugly, with no apologies. Love her!
Amanda, I demand to know about this new blog immediately!! ;)
Posted by: Kris | February 16, 2007 7:11 PM