Interview with Jen from Tatertots and Jello

Sharing is caring!

Why did you start your blog? My sister had a blog and kept telling me how fun it was. I didn’t think I had anything to say or contribute, so I put it off for a long time. Then one day I was feeling down and my oldest daughter was 12 and in a really difficult stage and I just decided that I needed an outlet.  
 
Where do you get your ideas?  I usually get obsessed with something — like subway art or quatrefoil or burlap and then I get a kick out trying to think up ways to use that medium. Sometimes I will see something that inspires me and then I put my spin on it.

How do you have time to do everything you do? I don’t  – lol! I spent so much time on my blog in 2010 and I promised myself that I would cut back a little in 2011 and put the focus back on my family. I try to stick to a schedule and that saves me time.

What do you think was the biggest contributing factor to the growth of your blog? I think doing projects and linking them up to linky parties was the biggest factor in my blog growing so quickly. There were 3-4 bloggers that featured me and it was wonderful!

Did you ever get discouraged when you were first starting out? I started off just blogging for myself, so I never had a goal with my blog at first.

What keeps you blogging? I love featuring other people and telling my readers about new projects and talented bloggers. Featuring other people makes me happy.

Why do you go to blogger conferences? I have only really been to one conference. I wanted to meet bloggers that I talked to online and on twitter in real life.

What do you like the most about blogger conferences? I liked meeting people and talking in person. It was a thrill!

What gets you out of bed in the morning? My blog – lol. There is always something that I need to check on. But my family is the number one factor in my life.

What is a typical day like for you? Life is crazy. It depends on whether my husband is in town or not. But when he is out of town which is most of the time. I make sure my older kids are up around 6 and get them off to school, then get my two younger girls up. My middle daughter goes to school at 9. Then I have about 3 hours in the morning with my youngest daughter and to be honest that’s when I get my email done while she watches Dora or Veggie Tales. Then I get her off to school and I have about 2 hours without any kids to work on projects. Then all the kids are home and I help them with homework or run them around until dinner time and then once everyone is in bed I usually write up tutorials and answer email until about 1 in the morning.

What do you do with your evenings? When my husband is in town I try to spend time with him, when he isn’t I work on email or writing up tutorials.

What are your hobbies other than crafting?  I love to read! I read every night when I go to bed. It’s “my” time.

How many kids do you have?  I have 4 kids.

What is your favorite thing about being a mom? Seeing my kids grow and turn into their own special people.

What is your guilty pleasure? I love chips and salsa, Diet Coke, and Cheese-Its. I cannot buy Cheese-Its or I eat the entire box.

What is your most embarrassing moment? Seeing myself on screen. Gah!

How did you meet your husband? My husband and I met in college.

Where was your first kiss? I think it was in a movie theater 🙂

What is the most romantic thing he ever did for you? Once in the month of February he wrote me a love note ever single day that month.

What is your favorite Valentine’s Day tradition? We usually go out as a couple the weekend before or after Valentine’s Day, just because it’s not as crowded. On the actual day I love to make a fun dinner like a heart shaped pizza or order in chinese food and have a candle-lit dinner with the kids.

What was your most memorable Valentine’s Day as a kid? we hardly ever went out to eat as a child, so I remember once we went to this restaurant that had tables that looked like beds. I thought that was so cool!

Wasn’t that so fun learning more about her?? Thanks so much again for doing the interview, Jen!  Jen blogs at Tatertots and Jello and The CSI Project so go check her out if you haven’t already!

And today is the last today to enter the Jojobeans Valentines Giveaway!!   (low entries and three winners–so get your entries in!!)