10 Questions with Teeni of Vaguetarian Tea Room

1. Describe your blog in five sentences or less.
My blog is to the blogosphere like Seinfeld is to television. It’s a blog about nothing in particular but it contains lots of great episodes.

2. Link us to one post from your blog that best defines who you are.
Here is a post that describes it best.
A Pizza With Nuthin’?

3. What sets you apart from other bloggers?
My blog is different from other blogs in that it doesn’t “specialize” in one area but “befriends” a number of interests. For instance, I’m interested in vegetarianism and veganism, but I’m not completely either of those things and I would never want to limit myself to meeting only those of a certain lifestyle. I’m a people person. I also have an interest in crochet and other crafts; I love photos and art although I’m not good at photography or traditional art myself. But I enjoy meeting others who have talent in those areas and I can certainly appreciate their talents. So I’ve tried to create a space that is open and friendly, that anyone can visit for a little break. After all, a tea room is not just about tea. It’s about relaxing, taking some time out, chatting with a friend about things that interest you, eating little goodies, reflecting, entertaining new ideas, learning and experiencing new things.

4. When and how did you first discover blogging?
I guess I was aware of blogging for much longer than I’ve been doing it. I would happen upon various blogs while doing searches online. But I never considered writing one myself until my husband mentioned it to me. He thought I’d enjoy it and that it would “keep me out of trouble” when I was facing some health issues. He may regret that decision now because blogging has really turned out to be a big thing for me. I started my blog in May of 2007. I’m not the greatest writer and I don’t have the best command of the English language, but I think people can tell where I’m coming from and I’m getting better each day. My little circle of online friends has been growing slowly and steadily.

5. What is your biggest pet peeve related to blogging or the internet?
My biggest pet peeve about blogging is when I see bloggers seriously limit themselves and their growth by alienating their visitors and other bloggers. They may not realize they are doing it. But it can be offensive to visit a site that only shows one aspect of a person’s life and only caters to others who share that same aspect. For instance, if you were a blue thing-a-ma-jobber but had an interest in possibly someday doing some red thing-a-ma-jobbing, you might visit the blog of someone who already had an interest in red thing-a-ma-jobbing. But if you got there and soon realized that the blog was only geared towards die-hard red thing-a-ma-jobbers and it didn’t feel welcoming to newcomers or people with just an interest, then you probably wouldn’t continue to visit that blog or refer it to anyone. This would be especially true if they don’t respond to your comments or only include die-hard red thing-a-ma-jobbers in their contests, blogrolls, etc. It is sad that they will lose and alienate possible readers and also possibly drive people away from red thing-a-ma-jobbing rather than winning more people to their way of thinking.

6. Name one plugin, blogging widget, or service that you can’t live without.
A gadget I could not live without is the search box. I have a bad memory so if I’m looking to refer to a specific post I saw somewhere whether it’s on my own site or someone else’s, I’d be lost without it. It has allowed me to find things I thought I’d lost for good.

7. If you could choose anyone, living or dead, to write a guest post for your blog, who would it be and why?
If I could choose anyone to guest write on my blog, living or dead, it would be myself, living or dead. I wonder what I’d write about if I were dead? I wouldn’t want to die though (who would?) and so if I could still write a post while dead then I really wouldn’t be dead and that would be good. So I choose me. That settles that.

8. How has blogging made you a better person?
Blogging has aided me in my writing skills and continues to do so. It has given me an outlet for creativity, silliness, seriousness, anger, and happiness. It has allowed me to share these things with an audience and get feedback that has made me reflect on things I may not have otherwise. In that sense it has improved me and made me a better person.

9. What are your tips for becoming a better blogger?
This is all relatively new to me but a few tips I’ve been picking up to improve my blogging are to

Blog regularly. It’s okay to miss time on the computer for real life. Plus, real life gives you more fuel for blogging. But do try and blog on a somewhat regular basis. This keeps you in practice and keeps your audience coming back. If it gets too sporadic you may lose them.

Blog sincerely. Don’t waste a post on something you really don’t have a feel for. It actually does come across to the reader. However, you can blog about something trivial and insignificant because if you are sincere about it or passionate enough you will get a reaction.

Don’t just post laundry lists. I have my own list of things to do and I don’t need the added stress of reading yours too.

Post your own work. Sometimes just a short post of a sentence or two is better than a re-post of someone else’s work. Sometimes just a photo is great.

10. Name one great blog that you read on a regular basis. What makes it unique?
I regularly read Vegan Momma (Opal Tribble). This woman does it all. She is welcoming and friendly. In addition to a little automated email welcoming me after my first comment to her blog, she also followed up with a personal response to my comment. She is vegan but does not alienate anyone who is not vegan at her site. All are welcome, all are encouraged but not pressured. She shares a little about herself which makes it easier to trust her and makes you want to get to know her better. She knows how to mix it up at her site with music, video, entertaining tidbits, serious thoughts, technical and blogging advice, recipes and more. She also is the owner of five different sites, a single mom, and a business owner. She is always pleasant and can entertain opinions that are different than her own without taking offense or compromising her beliefs. She is not perfect and is not afraid to admit it. Her soul comes through in her blog.

Categories: Food, Personal, Ten Questions