Have you met Cori from Cori’s Big Mouth? She is some kind of AWESOMESAUCE! She is super nice, very fun, super funny (she makes me laugh constantly while reader her blog!), a full time student, a full time nanny to triplets, and also has an Etsy Shop! She has a bright future in front of her. I can’t wait to see what comes from her blog over the next couple of months!
Cori is Everywhere these day! Make sure to check out her sites, and give her lots of comment love!
Personal Blog: Cori’s Big Mouth
Business Blog: Blue Eyed Blessings
Twitter: @cori_shelley
Facebook: Cori’s Big Mouth
Etsy: Blue Eyed Blessings
I feel so honored be participating in a Question & Answer session on the one and only, Family and Life in Las Vegas blog!! Okay, enough sucking up to Emily and onto my favorite topic … myself: D
Yes, I am that vain!
Tell me about yourself, and your blog.
My name is Cori and I am currently a junior at the University of Washington, where I am studying Media & Communications. To do what? To [hopefully] blog and play with Social Media for a living! I’m *hoping* to graduate next June, if all things go as planned! I love classes without exams and instead papers to write! I’d write an essay any day over having to take or study for a test!
I grew-up and live in a small suburban Seattle town. The majority of my dad’s family lives within 20 minutes of me and I love having my extended family in my daily life! We are a very close (sometimes to close) family, who spend a lot of time together! In fact, next month most of us are taking a family vacation to Cabo San Lucas! I cannot wait!
My “claim to fame” is being a nanny for multiple multiples! Since I was 13 years old, I have nannied or babysat for about 10 sets of twins, 10 sets of triplets, 1 set of quadruplets and even a set of quintuplets! I love the chaos that comes with multiples, not to mention the attention I get when we go out! (Remember, I said I was vain!) The past four years, I have been with a family who has boy/boy/girl triplets, who keep me hopping! I was hired to be their nanny prior to them being born, so I have been with them their whole lives! I think I have the best job in the world!
In addition to school, family and working, I somehow find time to blog in two separate spots. I have my personal blog, Cori’s Big Mouth, and my business/Etsy blog, Blue Eyed Blessings.
Why do you blog?
I started blogging in July of ‘08, after many years of personal journaling. Growing up, I loved being able to look back and re-read about highlights in my life! I’m not really sure how I made the jump from journaling to blogging, but three years ago I took the leap and haven’t looked back!
My Cori’s Big Mouth blog showcases my mumble-jumbled-crazy-scattered life, where quite often the words that come out of my mouth get me in trouble (one of these days I’ll learn to “filter”…) I blog about family, the triplets & toddler/preschool ideas, my scrapbooking, school and anything else that’s going on in my life! I use it as my personal, yet very public, journal. I still find joy going back and remembering fun events, holidays and other memorable moments in my life!
I recently ventured into the business world by opening an Etsy store, Blue Eyed Blessings, with my friend Julia. In our store we sell handmade hair bows and other accessories! I’m in charge of all social media aspects and promoting of our store! I love getting a chance to use my new Media & Communications knowledge.
What advice you would give someone just starting out in the blogging world?
I think the best advice I can give a new blogger is remember why you started a blog. You started for one reason, remind yourself often and stick to it!
When I started my blog, I started it as a way to share the daily going-ons in my life with my friends and family. I had aspirations of going “big”, but I had no idea how, nor did I think it was plausible. I started it just for me.
About a year later I discovered Blog Frog and was welcomed into the blogosphere. I learned so much from bloggers on the site. It was at this time that I started to learn the real ropes of blogging and social media. My top 5 recommendations for new bloggers who want to become active in the blogosphere would be:
- Comment, Comment, Comment on other blogs! The more you comment, the more your name will get out there!!
- Visit EVERY blog and comment on those who comments on yours! Again, keep your name out there!
- Reply to EVERY comment you get via email! By replying your name and blog will end up back in the posters inbox, there’s a chance they’ll turn around and pop back over! Plus it makes you seem more human and appreciative for new and return visitors!
- Join a blogging site like Blog Frog! Another way to interact in the blogosphere!
- Find your niche! Figure out who your target audience is going to be. What “community” are you entering? Family/Mommy Blogs, Cooking, Craft, etc. Find your niche and stick to that area!
Even though I’ve enjoyed all aspects of the blogosphere and social media, I often have to remind myself why I started to blog. Quite often I need to take a step back and remember what’s important to me – journaling about my life – not about how many followers, comments or visits my blog has!
What is your beverage of choice?
My beverage of choice would be Sprite or Raspberry Lemonade!
What is one non-living thing you couldn’t make it through your day without?
It’s a tossup between my laptop and my iPhone. I am constantly on both throughout the day. If I had to pick one, I would probably have to pick my iPhone, because that also has internet – giving me the best of both worlds!!
You have $1000 to spend only on yourself, and not on anything practical. How do you spend it? (Bonus for pictures)
I actually got to live this dream about a month ago!! I had an extra grand burning a hole in my pocket [seriously who has that??! It was a once in a lifetime purchase!]. I decided to spend my $1,000 on a DSLR camera!! I purchased a Nikon D5000 along with a couple of lenses and all the crap accessories that go along with it! This was the most money I ever spent at one time, and I kept telling the sales associate checking me out “please hurry before I change my mind!” In the end I’ve been so happy, this is something I’ve wanted for a very long time, and well worth the money I spent on it!! Now that I have the camera, I’m taking a photography class and learning how to become a photographer! I’m very very new at it, but love it!
Here are a couple of my photograph’s I’ve taken with my new camera! Emily said “bonus” points for pictures!!
What is your personal mantra? (Or favorite quote?)
I live by “all things happen for a reason” which has been a tough mantra to live. At times I’ve wanted to scream when things don’t go my way, but I try to remind myself often “all things happen for a reason.” There’s a reason something didn’t go the way I hoped, and in the end it will all be worth it. This has been especially true for me as I’ve navigated my way through college and made a big change from going from nursing school to switching majors and getting a social media degree! I’m already beginning to reap the benefits of not getting into nursing school; not to mention this life is soooo much more fun!
As stated above, I promise to stop by your blogs and leave some comment love to say thanks for all your sweet comments!! Remember, we grow through sharing the love with others!!
Thanks again Emily, for this wonderful opportunity to do a Q&A session with you!!
(SEE I TOLD YOU SHE IS FUNNY!!)
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Thank you Emily for having me 😀