Meet Nina from Nina Says
Blogger: Nina Say
Blog: Nina Says
My blog was originally named “The One Fantastical” and after two and a half years of blogging I felt it was not relevant or descriptive of my blog or what my mission was. In mid 2012, I changed my blog’s name to Nina Says which is a play on my name “Nina Say.” I know there are a lot of blogs that mention “Says” in the title, but I thought I was clever since it was essentially my name. At least that is how I hope people view it!
I love having an outlet to write and share my thoughts. I also love receiving comments from my readers…nothing feels better than receiving comments about how they love what I said or that it has helped them in some way. The community surrounding my blog is amazing.
The worst part of blogging is occasionally slipping into a deadline driven funk. I love blogging for me, but accepting too many tasks can become a burden quickly.
My camera. My Nikon D5100 is my baby and my best friend. I think a great blog utilizes great photographs. For me, including my personal photos is another way of expressing myself creatively.
Some members of my family do read my blog, unfortunately many of them don’t fully understand what it is that I do. I have never gotten in trouble, but I do get 20 questions…a LOT!
Blogging has positively changed my life. It allows me to stay home with my kids and bring in a little bit of money to supplement my family’s income. I love nothing more than to be able to pay for my daughter’s birthday party or take my husband out on a date with the little bits of money I earn through blogging.
I have not yet met any other bloggers…but I’m planning on it! I am hopeful that it will be like catching up with an old friend…not awkward. I’m especially excited to meet Cheryl from The Beautiful Side of Hectic and Jennifer from Eighty MPH Mom.
The most embarrassing post I’ve written is my initial weight loss post. I am proud to say I’m 26 pounds lighter than I was at that point. Posting the progress pictures is especially difficult because there is always that fear that I’ll be judged.
The person I would love to guest post for me is Kandee Johnson, who is my idol in the beauty world. Makeup and beauty is one of the things I dream of blogging about full time in the future. Having Kandee guest post on my blog would be a dream come true because I look up to her so much. She has done makeup tutorials on how to look like David Bowie in his Ziggy Stardust days and that was the final straw because I love Bowie…I will be a fan of Kandee Johnson for the rest of my life.
I believe it was all fate. I was a teen mom, I got pregnant during my senior year of high school and had my first daughter at 18. I was going through an extremely dark time in my life and initially wanted somewhere that was mine to write and vent. I bought a domain name and hosting and set up a WordPress blog…not knowing what I would write about or what my blogging career would bring me. Blogging helped me climb out of the dark days and grow into helping support my family. Blogging also helped me realize my passion is in Internet Marketing. I am currently studying for my Bachelor’s degree in Internet Marketing and learning new things that have helped me in my blogging.
I think they find it intriguing. They all see what I do as “lucky” but I never want to make blogging seem like it isn’t a job. Blogging is a job and no matter how I explain it, nobody fully understands it. I think there are even people who see my blogging as scammy. It is one of those new up-and-coming careers than isn’t fully understood or recognized.
Yes, while I have a passion in writing, I’ve always dreamed of being a public figure of sorts. Vlogging is something I would do full time if it were possible. Eventually I want to have a vlog show that features other bloggers as guests. I am working on individual episode ideas to get the ball rolling, and if you’re ever interested I’d love to have you as a guest one day!
Visit Nina Says
And be sure to tell Nina that Andrew from Mommy’s Busy, Go Ask Daddy sent ya!
Great interview! Awesome job
Nina, you are such a beautiful blogger, you would be a wonderful vlogger! I love my Nikon d5100 too, and I love the plan on the title name (I never really understood what the One Fantastical meant, but I’m a little slow 🙂 Nina Says is a terrific name!)
I will have to jump over and read some of Nina’s stuff. Thanks for introducing me to her writing.
You’re welcome, Maryann. That’s the main reason I started this weekly column and hope it continues! 🙂
It is funny, I never knew how young Nina was. Great interview.
Thanks, Rachel. Yeah, fascinating blogger, especially for one so young, right?