Jen of "Chasing Domestic Bliss"

AM – Our Featured Blog for January 2010 is “Chasing Domestic Bliss”.  Jen is the owner of this wonderful and informative blog.  Thank you for joining us today!

JJ – Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to share with the PWC readers.

AM – Please tell us a little more about yourself.

JJ – I am a creative stay & work at home mom.  I live on the West coast of Canada with my husband and our 2 year old son.  We live a natural lifestyle, eat organic and do our best to have a small impact on nature.

AM – How did “Chasing Domestic Bliss” come about?

JJ – A few months after giving birth to my son I realized just how isolated you can feel when at home with an infant.  Since I’m not a terrific socializer I thought a blog would be a great way to honour my creative spirit, share and meet with other like minds and document our lives.  (I love reality t.v. and am quite a voyeur as well)

AM – What is it that keeps you and your blog going?

JJ – I am interested in many things.  I write about most of them on my blog.  I never suffer from boredom, usually I have so many things I want to do I can’t keep them straight.  That helps me stay engaged in life and motivated to get them all done.  The cycles of the seasons and the moon also renew me and help me put things in perspective.

AM – What do you do when you get low on inspiration for new posts?

JJ – Usually I read, take a walk with my son and a camera or look back over old posts that I can elaborate on.  I also find that the other blogs I read are a huge inspiration.  We feed each other creatively.

AM – I see from your blog that you are a reader.  What are you reading right now?  What are you favorite genres?

JJ – Right now I’m reading two books.  “A Year In Provence” by Peter Mayle and “Feeding the Whole Family” by Cynthia Lair.  Both have a food theme but in different ways; cookbook and memoir.  I read almost every genre: biographies, fantasy, literature, non-fiction.  I have lots of books waiting on the shelf so that I can keep things fresh.

AM – From looking back on your blog, I also see that you are a crafter.  What kinds of things do you like to make?

JJ – My education was in Fine Arts and I focused on fibre work.  Embroidery, quilting, and working in mixed media.  I craft for our home making things like pillows and decorations.  I also craft useful things like my tarot card bag and altar cloths.  The most recent finished project that I did is a Waldorf style doll for my son’s Yule present.

AM – What do you think is the most important piece of advice that you would give a beginning Pagan blogger?

JJ – Take time to develop your voice and try not to follow “fads.”  I find that sometimes you read something fun on a blog and then everyone starts doing that too.  It’s not wrong but take a moment to consider if that is really something that you identify with and if it’s not skip it.  You may gain followers more slowly but you’ll be authentic and readers respond to that most or at least that is what I look for as a reader of blogs.

AM – Thank you for joining us today Jen!  Good luck with your blog, “Chasing Domestic Bliss,” and best wishes for a safe and prosperous 2010.