Kristin McKinley was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She spent 3 years living in Sydney, Australia studying Communications at the University of Western Sydney. She has a husband and two beautiful kids, a 4 year old daughter and a 1 year old son. Now that her children are older, she’s exploring career options in the hope of getting back into what she loves to do most: Writing and communications. You can read more about Kristin’s daily life, as well as find some great product reviews and giveaways at Born2BeMom.
When did you start blogging? I’ve kept a “diary” online for years, but in 2010 I decided to start blogging publicly.
What exactly made you start blogging? I majored in Communications and Creative Writing in University. I’ve always enjoyed expressing myself through writing, and when I found out I was pregnant (my second pregnancy, with twins at the time) I really felt like I needed an outlet to express how I was feeling. As well, there were not many local resources, online or otherwise for parents of multiples. At the time, my plan was to share updates on my pregnancy, and any resources for expectant parents of twins or more. Sadly, I lost my babies… but I knew I had to carry on with the blog. It became a healing process for me to talk about it. Later, my blog developed into a review and giveaway blog as I became pregnant with my son, and started reviewing products for my two children. I still share stories about my life as a parent, and about life in general.
What motivates you to keep going? It’s a lot of fun! Trying out new products and supporting the brands I connect with personally has been a huge learning process, and it’s been a great way for me to continue doing what I love in my spare time! I feel like I’ve found my niche. The blog has also become a nice way for family from out of province to keep up to date with my kids’ milestones, see pictures of them and find out what the family has been up to.
Favourite post ever? I can’t choose just one. 🙂 These two posts sum up my life right now, as they are all about my two kids. I spend each day at home with them, just where I want to be, watching them learn and grow. I love having the opportunity to do that, so writing about where they’re at in life is important to me. I wrote these after their birthdays in September:
http://www.born2bemom.com/2012/10/who-are-you-and-what-have-you-done-with.html
http://www.born2bemom.com/2012/09/happy-birthday-little-miss-four.html
What is the direction you are heading in with your blog? I plan to just keep doing what I’m doing! I’m hoping to continue to grow my blog. I’d love to gain a larger audience, work with more fantastic brands that I know I can genuinely support as an ambassador, and to continue to tell stories about my everyday life as a Mom to 2 great kids. 🙂
Tips for new bloggers? As with anything else, you’ve got to write what you know, and what you love. That will give you the motivation to keep going, and the believable voice others will be interested in.
What do you want people to know about you? I’m not all emotions and girlie girl! I swear too much (but not in front of the kids), I like to dance and act like a goof ball, and I really, really like to chill out on the deck at my cabin with a dirty martini and a Food Network magazine.